Medical analysis laboratories on strike for three days

The conflict between the government and the medical biology laboratories is hardening. At the end of a meeting at the headquarters of Medicare on Monday, November 7, during which they claim to have “hit against a wall”the representatives of liberal biologists have called on all players in the sector to “a renewable strike” starting Monday, November 14.

As of Monday, the analysis laboratories are invited to close their doors for at least three days, in sign of protest. No examination or sampling will be carried out. In the event of an emergency, patients will be redirected to the biology laboratories of clinical establishments or hospitals, which will remain open, it is explained to the Alliance of Medical Biology (ABM), at the origin of the call for mobilization. The latter, which brings together more than 90% of players in the sector, believes that participation should be massive. “It will be at least 90% or even 100% on our network”confirms Michel Pax, managing director of the Independent Biologists (LBI) group, which has more than 650 analysis laboratories in France.

The profession has been on a war footing for more than a month. As part of the Social Security financing bill (PLFSS) – currently being discussed in the Senate – the analysis laboratories have been ordered by the government to revise downwards the prices of their routine examinations (excluding tests screening for Covid-19).

Read also: Article reserved for our subscribers Analytical laboratories forced to lower the prices of their routine examinations

Strong profitability of the sector

Anxious to reduce the health expenditure bill, the State, which points to the strong profitability of the sector in recent years, plans to impose on biology laboratories at least 250 million euros in savings in 2023. which angered biologists. “This will not only endanger large networks, but also all independent laboratories. They already represent only 35% of laboratories in France. This measure will accentuate their disappearance.laments Mr. Pax.

Read also Article reserved for our subscribers Covid-19 makes the fortune of medical analysis laboratories, thanks in particular to PCR tests

In response, the analysis laboratories had already stopped transmitting Covid-19 screening test data since October 28, undermining the national monitoring of the epidemic, and suspended the sequencing of the tests, which makes it possible to follow emergence of new variants. Tensions escalated further at the start of the week. According to liberal biologists, the amount of savings requested would have increased Monday evening during the meeting with Medicare. It would now be, according to the ABM, 280 million euros over 2023, then 332 million per year from 2024 to 2026. Amounts disputed by Medicare, which specifies that it regrets “ profoundly the call to strike launched by liberal biologists.

source site-30