Palliative care is still largely unknown in France, whether by the general public or health professionals. And yet, these medical aid devices can prove essential to provide an end of life that is both discreet and dignified. Nearly 25 years after the publication of the law of June 9, 1999 aimed at guaranteeing the right to access, palliative care is still suffering of the taboo of death and the fear it generates. At the same time as this invisibility, palliative care suffers from significant lack of resources, as we illustrated with several figures in a dedicated article.
This Monday, April 8, 2024, the Ministry of Labor, Health and Solidarity unveiled its strategy to expand access to palliative care in France. In the columns of WorldCatherine Vautrin explained that this plan fits directly into the end of life bill, which will be presented on Wednesday April 10, 2024 to the Council of Ministers. With this new challenge, the minister intends to increase the supply of palliative care, so as to be able to offer it to patients before assistance in dying.
The creation of palliative care units and support homes
The Minister of Labor and Health lifted the curtain on the plan planned for the next ten years. In his interview given to WorldCatherine Vautrin explained “to broaden” the concept of palliative care to that of “supportive care“, the new term that must now be used. As a first measure, the government intends to compensate for territorial disparities. At a time when 20 departments are still without palliative care units (USP), the government plan plans to create 11 USP before the end of 2024, with the aim of palliative care for each department in 2025.
Another proposal, the government wants to put in place of the “support homes”or “hybrid structures [qui] make it possible to offer a suitable framework and specialized care to people whose treatment has been stabilized.”according to document presentation of the plan, consulted by France Info. Like the Jeanne Garnier medical center in Paris, these establishments are primarily offered to people who cannot or do not want to stay at home without a caregiver by their side.
Better train and take children into account
The government also plans the creation of pediatric palliative care units (USPP), including two premieres before the end of the year. While this type of device does not yet exist, 2 USPPs should see the light of day during 2024 and 17 by 2030either “one unit per region”reports France Info. Through other measures, the government strategy is also interested to caregivers patients as well as volunteers engaged in end-of-life support.
In addition, the ten-year plan includes training for health professionals and medical students. While the Court of Auditors estimates that, at the current rate, “it would take more than a century for all established general practitioners to have received continuing training in palliative care”the executive intends to put in place “a university training course in palliative medicine“. At the same time, a “diploma of specialized studies in palliative medicine and supportive care“, thus making palliative care a unique medical specialty. To support this ten-year plan, the government announced that it would invest 1.1 billion additionalthus increasing the budget from 1.6 billion to 2.7 billion over ten years.
Sources:
- Catherine Vautrin at World : “Before access to assisted dying is opened, we will have increased palliative care” – The world
- End of life: we present to you seven measures from the government’s plan to strengthen palliative and supportive care – France Info