In terms of health, the new head of government Michel Barnier and his future Minister of Health have several issues awaiting them, sometimes with tight deadlines to meet.
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The new Prime Minister Michel Barnier is already at work. While one of his first missions is to form a government capable of resisting the Assembly, concrete issues also await him, particularly in the area of health.
A budget to be voted on quickly
Among the emergencies, there is the Social Security Financing Bill (PLFSS), a very important text that sets France’s health budget for next year (hospital budget, drug reimbursement, etc.). This text is generally completed at the end of September and then voted on in October in Parliament. Very short deadlines must be met: it will therefore be a priority for the next government, and first and foremost for the future Minister of Health.
Vaccination campaigns to be launched
It is at this time, in September-October, that the Ministry of Health must organize the next vaccination campaigns. This includes the vaccination campaign for adolescents in middle schools against the papillomavirus, the vaccination of the elderly against the flu, Covid and now the virus responsible for bronchiolitis because there are two vaccines available this year. It will also be necessary to carry out the vaccination campaign for babies against bronchiolitis, which begins in about ten days.
The fate of the law on the end of life to be decided
The end-of-life bill was abandoned while it was being discussed in the Assembly at the time of the announcement of the dissolution. What will happen? Will this subject be put back on the agenda by the new government? The question remains pending for the moment. There are also recurring health issues, starting with the fight against drug shortages and medical deserts.
The demands of independent nurses and hospital staff to be examined
The issue of angry independent nurses who have been demanding increases in their rates for months is also a priority: a demonstration is already planned for October 1.
There also remains the question of improving working conditions in hospitals with Emmanuel Macron’s promise to relieve congestion in hospital emergency departments by the end of this year. According to the accounts of those most concerned, particularly emergency physicians who spoke out over the summer, this promise seems difficult to keep.
