The tax for unkept medical appointments is a measure of “guilt”, denounces France Assos Santé, which represents users

The “rabbit” tax of 5 euros, confirmed by Gabriel Attal on Saturday, is not a measure of “patient responsibility, but a measure of guilt”, denounces Sunday April 7 on franceinfo Gérard Raymond, the president of France Assos Santé, which represents users of the health system.

Gérard Raymond says to himself “more opposed than ever” to this tax, because according to him, the doctor “will look at the end of the month and say, ‘I’m short a few pennies, so I’m going to make ‘rabbit’ declarations.” “It doesn’t seem very serious,” he comments. According to him, the unfulfilled appointments are partly explained by the length of the delay before obtaining an appointment. “We would like there to be more transparency, foresight and exchanges”, before announcing measures.

Gérard Raymond also returned to the measure which will be tested in several departments, and which will allow patients to have direct access to specialists, without needing to go through a general practitioner for the prescription. “For the physiotherapist, I would like us to try it and look at it,” he adds. “But for other specialists, where it is necessary [attendre] one year, it will not change much in the organization of care, and in the immediate response to the population needs that we have in terms of health”he concludes.