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3rd September 2010
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 Healthcare update 2008: hospitals, complementary insurance and the cost of medicines In 2007 the overall social security deficit increased but it was the pension debt that constituted the increase. The health budget deficit actually fell to €4,6 billion. Nevertheless, the government cannot be complacent and it seems there is renewed vigour in executing the reforms initially proposed in the law of 13 August 2004. Hospital Reform: at the moment there are around 1,000 public hospitals in France. There are the very big establishments as well as the approximate equivalent of the cottage hospitals in the UK. The aim is to create 300 supersite hospitals so inevitably there will be closures but the accompanying protests may save some smaller establishments. Some of these smaller outfits automatically refer certain categories of patient to a larger hospital in the area and those who already have such arrangements in place are more likely to survive. Complementary health insurance: the law of 2004 envisaged greater financial participation from the organismes complémentaires, mutuelles, insurers etc. As only about 14%of healthcare funding is from these sources a further transfer of healthcare funding from the state seems inevitable. Included in this is the possibility of them contributing to the costs of those with long term conditions ie. those currently covered 100% by the 'Sécu'. The cost of medicines: For a more immediate attack on the deficit a €0,50 levy has been applied since 1 January 2008 to each container of medication prescribed. The initial effect of this measure has resulted in a fall of 4.6% (some 30 million units) sold in the first quarter of 2008 resulted. On the subject of pharmacy, measures are being considered to allow supermarkets and the like to sell over-the-counter medicines. Not surprisingly the pharmacists are not very happy about it. As these products are not prescribed they are sans vignette, and so no tarif is therefore applied allowing pharmacists to charge what they like - and do so! This can lead to large discrepancies in pricing, described by the French consumer magazine 'Que Choisir' as 'scandaleux.' By Peter Owen Health Topic Host  Complementary health insurance Healthcare in France Home Page 
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