Published
Video length: 3 min
Behind the scenes of the standoff between the analysis labs and the former Minister of Health
Behind the scenes of the standoff between the analysis labs and the former Minister of Health – (CASH INVESTIGATION / FRANCE 2)
In the fall of 2022, at the end of the pandemic, François Braun, then Minister of Health, wants to impose a reduction in Social Security reimbursements on analysis laboratories. Objective: save 1 billion euros by 2026. For “Cash Investigation”, he tells the story behind the scenes of this negotiation which will partially succeed. Extract from an investigation to be seen on February 22 at 9:10 p.m. on France 2.
Covid has affected medical analysis laboratories, a very concentrated sector where six giant companies reign: Eurofins, Cerba, Synlab, Unilabs, Biogroup and Inovie. While during the pandemic, millions of French people were tested, these companies shared the windfall of PCR tests, 100% covered by Health Insurance. At the height of the crisis, they received 73 euros per test. Result: in 2020, their turnover jumped by 85%, and 7 billion euros of public money was paid to them in full by Social Security.
Crisis profiteers?
In the fall of 2022, François Braun, then Minister of Health and Prevention, decided to bang his fist on the table. He wanted to impose on laboratories a reduction in these reimbursements. The authorities’ objective was to save 1 billion euros by 2026, or 250 million per year. The minister judged that “everyone has to make an effort“and that it was a”reasonable effort” in view of the record profits reaped by the labs.
Still in office at the time of filming “Cash Investigation”, François Braun agreed to tell Elise Lucet about what quickly became a standoff. At the time of this interview, he was still negotiating with the biologists. According to him, if the laboratories have “responded to a government request“, the latter also allowed them to display “extraordinary profits during this period, and Social Security money is the money of the French.” But the role of a minister is to spend public money “wisely“.
Closed labs and job blackmail
The biologists agreed with a saving of 250 million euros… but for the year 2023 alone. They did not intend to give in, and used all the means at their disposal. Thus, to make the government bend, 95% of laboratories closed their doors for several days, preventing the French from carrying out PCR tests or any other medical analysis: first in November and December 2022, then again in January 2023 .
To justify their bizarre strike, laboratory representatives addressed the media, such as the general director of Inovie Bioaxiome, David Martinez, who accused the authorities of “playing with the health of the French“. To increase the pressure, he even threatened: “We will be forced to reduce our payroll and reduce our workforce.“For François Braun, it was a”blackmail” that he has “not lived well because behind it, there is the state of health of our fellow citizens, there are patients… What consequences am I willing to accept for patients?“But he was sure to win this round:”I will take it“, he affirmed.
One month after this interview, in July 2023, François Braun left office during a ministerial reshuffle. After his departure, an agreement was signed with the medical biology laboratories. By 2026, they will have to make around 550 million euros in savings. Far from the billion wanted by François Braun.
Extract from “Energy, Covid: crisis profiteers”, an investigation by Claire Tesson for “Cash Investigation”, to be seen on February 22, 2024 at 9:10 p.m. on France 2.
> Replays of France Télévisions news magazines are available on the Franceinfo website and its mobile application (iOS & Android), “Magazines” section.