The article discusses the challenges faced by pregnant women and new mothers in France, particularly in rural areas where there is a lack of access to medical care. The use of mobile medical units, such as Opti’soins, has been instrumental in providing healthcare services to these vulnerable populations. The Cour des comptes, a government oversight body, has highlighted the poor health outcomes in France related to perinatal care and has recommended improving the quality and safety of healthcare services, especially in smaller maternity wards.
The report by the Cour des comptes emphasizes the need for a more efficient use of resources in perinatal care, given the significant budget allocated to this sector but a declining birth rate. France’s performance in key indicators such as stillbirth, neonatal mortality, and maternal mortality is compared unfavorably to other European countries. The report also points out the increased risks faced by pregnant women, such as obesity and late pregnancies, as well as social and territorial inequalities, particularly affecting foreign-born mothers and those in overseas territories.
The current perinatal healthcare system in France is deemed inadequate by the Cour des comptes, with outdated regulations and technical conditions in maternity wards that do not meet the evolving needs of care provision. The report highlights the challenges faced by smaller maternity units, which struggle to attract and retain qualified staff due to their lower number of annual deliveries. The Cour des comptes advocates for a case-by-case analysis of the conditions in which these small maternity units operate, moving towards a model that prioritizes safety over accessibility.
The President of the Cour des comptes, Pierre Moscovici, stresses the importance of prioritizing safety in healthcare decision-making, especially in the context of perinatal care. He notes a growing consensus within the medical community in favor of larger and more secure healthcare facilities. The article concludes by emphasizing the need for a fundamental rethinking and reorganization of the perinatal healthcare system in order to provide better outcomes for pregnant women and new mothers in France.
In response to the recommendations of the Cour des comptes, efforts are being made to address the challenges in perinatal care in France, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Mobile medical units like Opti’soins play a crucial role in providing healthcare services to pregnant women and new mothers in these regions. Despite the budget allocated to perinatal care increasing, there is a need for a more efficient use of resources to improve the quality and safety of healthcare services. The issues of social and territorial inequalities, as well as the risks faced by pregnant women, need to be addressed through targeted interventions and policy changes.
