Single medications, female condoms, teleconsultations, sick leave… Changes in 2024 in the health sector

Several measures come into application either from Monday January 1 or in the first weeks of 2024, in the field of health.

Expanded skills for pharmacists, increase in the price of tobacco, sick leave, teleconsultations, prevention appointments: the health field is experiencing its share of new developments for the new year.

New developments in pharmacy

Two main measures come into force. The first concerns the fight against medical deserts and the difficulty of finding a doctor. Today, 6 million French people do not have a GP so from now on, without having to go through a doctor, pharmacists will be able to dispense medicines, antibiotics, against tonsillitis and cystitis. They will first need to perform a test to make sure there is a bacterial origin. The second measure concerns potential drug shortages. In the event of pressure on drug stocks, pharmacists will have to dispense medications individually.

January 1 increases

While tobacco causes 75,000 deaths in France each year, to discourage smoking, the price of a pack of cigarettes is increasing: between 50 cents and 1 euro depending on the brand. Mutual insurance prices are also increasing by 8% on average. On the prevention side, after male condoms last year, female condoms will be free for those under 26. Still for those under 26, panties and menstrual cups will now be reimbursed by Social Security.

The savings of Social Security

Social Security plans savings on expenditure items that have increased sharply in recent years. Firstly, to curb the observed explosion of work stoppages, during teleconsultations, doctors will no longer be able to issue work stoppages of more than 3 days. Exceptions made for doctors treating the patient concerned or if the patient can justify being unable to obtain a physical appointment to renew their withdrawal.

Finally, another source of savings envisaged for Social Security: medical transport of patients. Patients will be obliged, when their state of health allows, to share a taxi or ambulance with other patients. If they refuse, they will pay and will only be reimbursed based on shared transportation.

Details expected in the coming weeks

For some of these measures, we will have to wait for the release of the implementing decrees in the coming weeks to have more details. This is particularly the case for free prevention appointments at three key ages of life: 25-45-65 years old. Meetings promised by the former Minister of Health, François Braun. This was already supposed to start last fall but no information has been communicated for several weeks.

No information either, on January 1, concerning the doubling of the ceiling of the medical franchise from €50 to €100 per French person as was mentioned last summer and fall.