The Minister of Health regretted Monday on France Inter the absence of “responsibility” of liberal doctors whose two main unions have announced their rejection of the new consultation rates proposed by Health Insurance.
“There won’t be an agreement by Tuesday evening, that’s almost certain”, regrets François Braun, Minister of Health, invited this Monday on France Inter. It reacts to the refusal, at this stage, of the main unions of representative general practitioners to sign before Tuesday midnight the new consultation rates proposed by Health Insurance. “We are missing out on an opportunity to improve the care of our fellow citizens and, in this, I find that the doctors’ unions are not responsible”, Judge Francois Braun.
This agreement provides for a price increase of 1.50 euros, i.e. 26.50 euros per consultation for all general practitioners, instead of the current 25 euros, and up to 30 euros for practitioners who agree to take “territorial commitments” (take more patients, participate in the guards, practice in a medical desert…). François Braun says “not being able to understand why liberal doctors have such a closed position”.
“The valuation of all doctors is 7,000 euros more per month, it’s substantial.”
François Braun, Minister of Healthat France Inter
While the unions denounce the fact of having to work more, François Braun assures that there is “no additional constraints for doctors who already work a lot”. “For the others, yes, I’m asking for an extra effort, because the French need to have more doctors available”he continues.
A new text proposed to the Minister in three months
Despite the opposition displayed, the Minister of Health still wants “believe in common sense” vis-à-vis this agreement which he considers “essential to improve the quality of care”. “The State is on the side of the French. We have put 1.5 billion on the table, it is more than what we have ever done in a medical convention. What I ask of doctors is to also take a step towards the French”summarizes François Braun.
Without the agreement of at least one union representing at least 30% of the votes in the last elections, by Tuesday evening, the new medical convention cannot be adopted. Health Insurance will then rely on Annick Morel, former Inspector General of Social Affairs, to write a new agreement. It will have three months to propose a new text which, if validated by the Minister of Health, will be binding on everyone for “at least two years”. “We are going to waste time reforming and that is what is not acceptable“, laments François Braun.