Doctors pause their strike in France: Will consultation fees go up?
The unions say their action is 鈥榮uspended鈥� only, as they agree to reopen negotiations on consultation fees next week
The unions say that the strike is only 鈥榮uspended鈥� pending negotiations and further government debate
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Doctors鈥� unions have paused their strike in France after the health minister agreed to reopen negotiations on the subject of higher consultation fees.
Six unions - representing GPs and specialists - suspended their strike this week having started action on October 13.
It comes after Health Minister Aur茅lien Rousseau wrote a 鈥榣etter of intent鈥� on Tuesday, October 17, to the director of the Assurance maladie, Thomas Fat么me. Mr Rousseau explained that he was prepared to reopen negotiations with the unions.
In a , the unions said: 鈥淚n this spirit [the letter] reopens the horizon on support, and making independent [medical] practice more attractive.鈥�
Will consultation fees rise now?
The unions had been on strike mainly to call for higher consultation fees. Currently, these are 鈧�25 per visit for a GP (and are set to increase to 鈧�26.50) but some specialists say they need to rise as high as 鈧�50 per visit to make the system economically viable.
The unions have repeatedly mounted strikes due to a lack of satisfaction with the government's offers to increase fees. Previously, they have said that the government鈥檚 plan to increase the fee from 鈧�25 to 鈧�26.50 for GPs (and to 鈧�31.50 for specialists) is not enough.
The government may, therefore, be forced to increase fees significantly to reach an agreement with the unions - but this is only speculation for now.
The first meetings between the unions and the Caisse nationale de l鈥橝ssurance maladie (Cnam) are now set to begin next week. No agreement or proposed new fee has yet been confirmed.
Read more:Doctors鈥� strike in France: 鈥榃hy 鈧�25 per appointment is not enough鈥�
Read more:More GP strikes expected in France after proposed fee rise is rejected
Strike 鈥榮uspended鈥� only
The union statement said that the strike is only 鈥榮uspended鈥�, and that the movement could resume at any time. This is because the Senate is set to examine a controversial law on healthcare access - proposed by Seine-et-Marne MP Fr茅d茅ric Valletoux - from October 24.
鈥淲e remain absolutely alert and so does our action,鈥� said the union statement. 鈥淭his [proposed law] is a veritable threat to independent practice and access to care.鈥�
des m茅decins
L'intersyndicale r茅unissant la totalit茅 des syndicats repr茅sentatifs des m茅decins lib茅raux, les syndicats de jeunes et futurs m茅decins, ainsi que l'association m茅decins pour demain, d茅cide de suspendre le mouvement de gr猫ve,
tout en maintenant une vigilance...
鈥� MG FRANCE (@MG_France)
The proposal is supported by the government and includes rules that would require GPs to set up their practice in 鈥榤edical desert鈥� areas. However, proponents say that it would not infringe on GPs鈥� freedom to choose their base. This is disputed by the medical unions.
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