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Medical deserts are still under discussion in the National Assembly. 6 million French people have no attending physician. In places, retired doctors are returning to service, as in Albi in the Tarn.
Finding a general practitioner in Albi (Tarn) is sometimes a challenge. And getting treatment, an obstacle course. “My daughter hasn’t seen a doctor for seven years, because there is no doctor. And suddenly when she has a problem, we go to the emergency room“, says a woman. Hence the success of this new consultation center, run by retired doctors. Like Doctor Franck, 69, who goes for consultation. While in the next room, two other practitioners of 70 and 74 year old organize their schedule.
Not enough to unclog the emergency room of the neighboring hospital
They will be 13 to take turns, at the rate of two half-days per week. “We became aware that there was a problem of medical demography, and therefore we are ready to help the population.“, declares Dr Yves Carcaillet, president of the association of retired doctors of Albi. It all started with an alert from the town hall. 5,000 Albigensians do not have a doctor, and a third of the doctors in the will retire within the next two years.
So that these retirees can exercise, a unique structure in France has been put in place. The premises are paid for by the town hall, the salaried medical secretaries of the hospital, and the Regional Health Agency completes the financing. The doctors receive 50 euros per hour from the association which manages the structure. They are in no way competitors of other general practitioners, whom it was necessary to reassure. If this new center is useful, it will not however be enough to unclog the emergency room of the neighboring hospital.