In Pleyber-Christ (Finistère), an ad encourages doctors to come and settle in the town on February 16, 2023. With the worsening shortage of medical professionals, how can more liberal doctors be encouraged to participate in on-call duty on evenings, weekends, and holidays? How can the time needed to see patients be regained, especially with the lack of additional practitioners expected before 2030-2035 due to the effects of the reform of the numerus clausus at universities? In an interview with several regional press outlets on April 6, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal provided more details on the government’s objectives outlined in his general policy speech on January 30. The government aims to recover the equivalent of 15 to 20 million medical appointments each year.
At this stage, there are no mandatory measures. The goal is for every French citizen to have access to a doctor within thirty minutes of their home outside of regular hours. To achieve this, Attal is focusing on incentives, but also mentions the possibility of reintroducing mandatory on-call duties, which were abolished in 2003. This is seen as a contentious issue for liberal doctors. The government is aiming for territorial solidarity by offering bonuses to doctors who are willing to go further than their usual area or take on more on-call duties. Details about the level and specifics of this bonus have not been disclosed.
According to data from the Order of Physicians, 95% of the territory is currently covered by on-call services. However, in the remaining 5% where coverage exists, the situation is deteriorating due to insufficient involvement of professionals. This lack of coverage leads to situations where people either forgo treatment or resort to emergency services, causing strain on the healthcare system. The government also plans to expand on-call services to include other healthcare professionals such as nurses, midwives, and dentists, allowing doctors to focus on more critical cases. These announcements come at a time when negotiations between liberal doctors and the Health Insurance are ongoing to redefine their working conditions and remuneration for the next five years. The negotiations, which have faced challenges and failed in 2023, have led to some syndicates calling for strikes starting from June 3.
Overall, the government is facing the challenge of addressing the shortage of medical professionals, particularly in rural areas, and ensuring adequate access to healthcare services for all citizens. The focus is on incentivizing doctors to participate in on-call duties, expanding the pool of healthcare professionals involved in emergency care, and renegotiating terms of practice and compensation for doctors over the next five years. The success of these initiatives will be crucial in improving access to healthcare services and reducing the strain on emergency services, ultimately benefitting the overall health and well-being of the population.
