fight against medical deserts, “nurses-nurses” law, prevention… Here are the main announcements from Michel Barnier on health

It is one of the “major projects” of the government of Michel Barnier. In his general policy speech on Tuesday October 1, the Prime Minister listed several proposals for the health sector. Michel Barnier promised to fight against medical deserts and the shortage of caregivers “one of the priorities” of the executive.

“We must find field solutions that work for patients and with all health professionals, to the two immense challenges of hospital operation and medical deserts,” insisted the head of government. Here are the tracks he presented.

A “voluntary” commitment program to push interns towards medical deserts

Michel Barnier first intends to develop a “new program”baptized “Hippocrates”, “by which interns, French and foreign, would voluntarily commit, for a given period (…) to practice in the territories which have the greatest shortage of doctors”. The Prime Minister adds that this volunteer program will be carried out “thanks to the support of the State and communities”without further details.

“The time is over when there was a fear of training too many doctors. We are going to amplify the effort made”also announced the Prime Minister. At the beginning of the year, former head of government Gabriel Attal promised to increase the capacity of the medical curriculum, with 12,000 students in the second year of medicine from 2025, instead of 10,800 in 2023, then 16 000 from 2027. An objective that the deans of medical faculties do not judge “not realistic”.

In the same vein, theThe government plans to call on “retired doctors, by allowing them to return to service with a favorable combination of remuneration and retirement”. He also hears “deploy medical assistants, health buses, groups of health professionals more quickly” and rely more on telemedicine, for example.

A “nurses” law to give them “an expanded role in patient care”

To “accelerate access to care”, the government will carry “a ‘nurses’ law” which will allow you to go “further in the recognition of their expertise and skills” And “will give them an expanded role in patient care.” Awaited for more than a year by professionals in the sector, a bill on the subject was to be presented to Parliament in the spring, before being stopped by the dissolution.

“We are extremely satisfied with the Prime Minister’s listening and pragmatism in the face of an emergency situation”reacted the president of the Order of Nurses, Sylvaine Mazière-Tauran, calling on the executive to nevertheless publish expected decrees, which should in particular open up new prescription rights for nurses in advanced practice.

Michel Barnier also said he wanted to go “further away” towards the extension of the skills of “pharmacists and physiotherapists”. This declaration was welcomed by the French Federation of Masseurs Physiotherapists Rehabilitators (FFMKR).

Measures on prevention or even mental health

The Prime Minister announced that mental health would be the “great national cause” of 2025. “Successive crises, particularly those of Covid, have had a significant and aggravating effect on the mental health of many French men and women”declared Michel Barnier, adding that “mental health issues affect[ai]“one in five French people”.

The head of government also promised “to invest” in the “prevention”, notably “risky behaviors, intensification of screening, development of healthy sports.” Among his announcements, the head of government also wishes “tackling simplification and elimination” of the “paperwork” which complicates the work of caregivers. “According to some doctors, reducing formalities would increase by 15% the time they can dedicate to consultations”he said.

A resumption of discussions on the end of life and “efforts” to develop palliative care

On the end of life, while parliamentary work was interrupted with the dissolution of the National Assembly by Emmanuel Macron, Michel Barnier promised that discussions would resume “early next year.” For “supporting people at the end of their lives”, “we are going to resume dialogue with [les députés], with the Senate, caregivers and associations, at the beginning of next year”he explained. He also promised that “efforts to promote the development of palliative care[aie]nt reinforced from 2025″.