the Minister of Health does not want to “sort through patients”, but “find ways to contain spiraling expenses”

Frédéric Valletoux, Minister Delegate in charge of Health and Prevention, tried to reassure Monday April 8 on franceinfo by specifying that he did not wish to do “a sorting among the patients”but “find ways to contain spiraling spending” medical transport. “We’re not going to touch.” to “heavy cases“, he emphasizes.

In this period of savings, Bercy has medical transport in its sights: ambulances, light medical vehicles (VSL) or approved taxis. “Health transport costs 6 billion euros, which is no small matter,” and they “increased last year by 7%”, said the minister. “We must find ways to contain the surge in these expenses,” he said.

“It is the spirit of responsibility that must guide us”

The government is studying several options, including shared journeys: “Why not? It would be possible” For “light patients”, believes Frédéric Valletoux. “It is the spirit of responsibility that must guide us,” he said.

The Minister of Health assures that patients will continue to be transported to their places of care: “We don’t go from 6 billion to 0 billion. It’s not about sorting patients, it’s about finding solutions,” he maintains. But he calls “everyone to be reasonable”. According to him, “for certain consultations, you can take public transport when you live in mainland France, not very far from the establishment and you are in good shape, because not everyone arrives on a stretcher at the hospital at their consultation”he explains.