Barthélemy Philippe / Photo credits: Jessica Bordeau / BSIP / BSIP via AFP
Rabbit tax, antibiotics delivered without the obligation to go through a doctor… The government announced this weekend a series of measures to deal with the crisis facing community medicine. But from the side of health professionals, the announcements are mixed.
No longer honoring a medical appointment could now cost you a small ticket. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal presented his health plan this weekend. A plan which notably provides for the introduction of the famous rabbit tax of 5 euros per missed appointment.
“It takes 10 years to train a doctor”
Beyond this symbolic announcement from the Prime Minister, there is a set of measures intended to make the daily lives of general practitioners but also their patients easier. Gabriel Attal wants to free up 15 to 20 million medical slots per year. For this, he promises 5,000 more places in medical school by 2027. “Liberal medicine is so unattractive that young people no longer want to settle down. It takes 10 years to train a doctor. It is not tomorrow the day before we will have sufficient doctors in the territory”, regrets Jean-Paul Hamon president of the Federation of Doctors of France at the microphone of Europe 1.
No longer honoring an appointment will pay
Another announcement, the rabbit tax should come into force in 2025. For each appointment canceled late, the patient will pay 5 euros to the penalized practitioners. From June, pharmacists will be able to dispense antibiotics and access to physiotherapists and certain specialists, without going through the doctor’s box, will be tested locally. “We also lack specialist doctors. So eliminating the care pathway is absolutely heresy,” regrets Jean-Paul Hamon.
Finally, Gabriel Attal announced financial aid to doctors who agree to be temporarily on call outside their area at night and on weekends. Today, 5% of the territory is without a doctor on call.