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Medical desert: the town hall of Sorgues in Vaucluse finances the studies of future doctors
Medical desert: the town hall of Sorgues in Vaucluse finances the studies of future doctors – (France 2)
Elected officials finance the studies of future doctors on the condition that they then settle down in the municipality. Report from Sorgues in Vaucluse.
At 71, he continues to carry his doctor’s bag through the streets of Sorgues (Vaucluse). Here, Jacques Roume is the last general practitioner to make home visits. The doctor is retired, but as no young people are settling down, he decided to postpone his departure so as not to abandon his patients. “If he can last a little longer (…) he follows the whole family, right down to the last one.”, laughs a local resident. “I’m going to last 2/3 years, and then I hope there will be a successor.”says the doctor.
A 100,000 euro initiative
The mayor, seeing that the next generation was not coming, had the idea of offering aid of 700 euros per month to two medical students, who in exchange would have to work for at least five years in the town. “It is an investment for the future. We help finance the studies. You settle in Sorgues, it could be nice”, explains the mayor. The initiative will cost a total of 100,000 euros, but it pleases the residents.