Free medical consultations will be offered in France at key ages at 25 to take stock of your vaccines, check that you are well, in the middle of life, around 45, especially to screen for tumors, cancers and finally , around the age of 65, in particular to anticipate the loss of autonomy.
>> Prevention: a free medical consultation will be offered to French people aged 25, 45 and 65, announces the Minister of Health
All these visits will be free, promises the Ministry of Health. Objective: to avoid human tragedies. First, because prevention would avoid thousands of illnesses and early deaths. These consultations would also make it possible to make significant savings, in treatments, and hospitalizations: according to the government, this would be measured in billions of euros less.
Prevention is an all the more important lever as France is lagging far behind, particularly compared to our European neighbours. Our prevention budget barely represents 2% of our healthcare expenditure. Our health system is largely in deficit because at the end of this year, the losses of our health system will reach almost 20 billion euros, according to the latest report of the Social Security accounts. Admittedly, the Covid epidemic is still weighing on the accounts, but the government hopes to reduce this deficit to 13 billion euros per year in the future. Seven billion euros less is ambitious, especially in a context where growth is slowing down.
Will the health system keep up with pseveral visits throughout life This is the whole debate because it is already often necessary to wait weeks, even months to have access to a specialist. What will the six million French people who live in medical deserts do? When there are doctors, will they be able to absorb this influx of additional patients when they are already overwhelmed. ? Moreover, the unions of health professionals consider this announcement “above ground”.
And then, the sinews of war: money. How will these additional visits and screenings be financed? The government ensures that these consultations are an investment. This program should be included in the draft social security budget for 2023, which will be presented on Monday, September 26.