The new Minister for Health Frédéric Valletoux said this Tuesday that he was in favor of the increase to 30 euros in the consultation of general practitioners being accompanied by compensation but expressed reservations about a return of compulsory on-call duty on weekends. Last week, Health Insurance opened the way for the increase to 30 euros in the consultation of general practitioners demanded by the main unions, demanding in return “developments in favor of improving the health of the population”.
Negotiations are expected to continue in the coming weeks and a new plenary session is planned for the first half of March. The increase to 30 euros, “I am in favor of it but it must also be with a commitment from doctors”, declared the Minister of Health Frédéric Valletoux on France 2. “From the moment we relieve them in administrative time, From the moment the State makes the effort to support the operation of city practices through medical assistants, they may need to commit to taking on more patients.”
Asked whether the return of compulsory on-call duty for general practitioners was among these compensations, he considered that this question should be decided “between professionals”. “I’m in favor of maybe asking those who can. Those who are of advanced age, who already have thousands and thousands of patients, who already work 10, 11, 12 hours a day, we are not going to ask them to come on weekends but we can find margins maneuver,” he added. “The obligation will be the last decision if we notice a deficiency because (…) we have not been able to organize improved permanence of care” in certain territories, specified Frédéric Valletoux.
Concerning the tax aimed at penalizing patients for unkept medical appointments, it could “undoubtedly” take the form of a “small deduction”. “I hope it goes quickly, by summer we will find something,” he assured. As for the ultra-sensitive subject of the end of life, at the heart of a bill which must be examined before the summer, Frédéric Valletoux said he was in favor of “that we raise the debate in a peaceful manner” .
