Major Health Challenges Awaiting the Next Majority
As France gears up for the historic legislative elections on June 30 and July 7, health remains a critical issue for voters. The country's three main political organizations have outlined their health programs, addressing challenges such as medical deserts, long waiting times, and devalued health professions. Here's a detailed look at their proposals.
New Popular Front's Health Program
The New Popular Front aims to tackle the issue of medical deserts by increasing the number of public hospital staff, including doctors, nurses, and caregivers, and raising their salaries. They propose regulating the installation of doctors in underserved areas and reestablishing permanent care in health centers. Additionally, they plan to organize a conference to save public hospitals and propose revaluation for night and weekend staff work. On the medicinal front, the New Popular Front advocates for creating a public medicine center to strengthen stock obligations and lifting patents on vaccines and medical means to fight pandemics.
National Gathering's Health Initiatives
The National Gathering proposes increasing the number of medical students by ending the numerus apertus. They aim to reduce the administrative burden in hospitals by capping administrative positions at 10% and eliminating Regional Health Agencies. To combat medicine shortages and waste, they plan to launch a strategic autonomy plan for medicines and implement the sale of medicines individually by 2026. The party also emphasizes systematic school medical visits and recognizing endometriosis as a long-term condition. They propose tax exemptions for retired doctors and nurses who return to service and reforms to State Medical Aid to cover only vital emergencies.
Renaissance's Comprehensive Health Strategy
The Renaissance party focuses on training more doctors by removing the numerus clausus, aiming for 16,000 doctors by 2027. They plan to ensure that everyone has a doctor on call within 30 minutes from home and simplify access to healthcare by allowing pharmacists, midwives, and nurses to perform everyday medical procedures. Renaissance also proposes creating a public mutual offer at €1 per day for the 3 million French people without one. They aim to fully reimburse wheelchairs by the end of the year and develop consultations for menopause, infertility, and endometriosis. Other initiatives include increasing transparency on healthcare costs and implementing better-compensated birth leave by 2025.
- The upcoming legislative elections are crucial for shaping the future of France's healthcare system. With major political organizations presenting comprehensive health programs, voters have a clear choice on how they want their healthcare challenges addressed.
- The New Popular Front's focus on increasing public hospital staff and regulating medical deserts aims to provide immediate relief to underserved areas. Their stance on lifting vaccine patents highlights their commitment to global health equity.
- The National Gathering's proposals to reduce administrative burdens and increase medical student intake reflect a pragmatic approach to healthcare reform. Their emphasis on systematic school medical visits and recognizing endometriosis as a long-term condition shows a commitment to preventive care.
- Renaissance's strategy to train more doctors and simplify access to healthcare services is designed to make healthcare more accessible and efficient. Their innovative approach to creating a public mutual offer and fully reimbursing wheelchairs addresses both financial and physical accessibility issues.
