The role of midwives is not limited to monitoring pregnancy andchildbirth. In a decree published on June 5, 2016 in the Official Journal, the Minister of Health Marisol Touraine broadens the scope of the skills of this profession. Midwives will now be allowed to perform voluntary terminations of pregnancy (Abortion) drugs and to vaccinate those around mothers and newborns.
Upgrading the profession of midwife
The skills of midwives are often underestimated and this decree should make it possible to revalue this profession. These health professionals can indeed perform pelvic exams, even outside of pregnancy, advise and prescribe a contraception, to ensure a follow-up of the mother and the child for one year after the birth and, henceforth, to practice a Medicated abortionand vaccinate those around a mother and her infant. It is to recall the many facets of this profession and the level of qualification of midwives that Marisol Touraine will launch on June 14 a national information campaign on the extent of their skills. “We must make women aware of the extremely wide scope of these missions, which make midwives play an essential role in the day-to-day care of healthy women.“, underlines the minister in a press release.
Abortions and vaccines: two workhorses of the health law
Simplifying access to abortion and improving vaccination coverage are two projects dear to Marisol Touraine, and recurring in the solutions of the Health law adopted in December 2015. Thus, on April 1, the 100% reimbursement of abortion proceduresentered into force, facilitating access to abortion. At the same time, in January 2016, the Minister presented a action plan for the renewal of the vaccine policyin France, recalling that “to be vaccinated is an individual right, but also a collective duty“Authorizing midwives to perform these two medical acts should therefore go in the direction of these previous measures.
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