While allergy concerns 1 out of 3 French people, allergists are on the way out. An existence notably called into question by the reform of medical studies.
By 2050, more than half of the planet will be allergic. For millions of people, the arrival of spring will mean sneezing, runny noses and itchy eyes. Asthma and food allergies will also progress at a rapid pace.
But at the same time, French allergists may have disappeared. Gathered in Paris at 11th Francophone Congress of Allergology from April 19 to 22, they recall that they are still not recognized as specialists and that no specific university training exists. Therefore, “interns are not interested in it and general practitioners are very little trained in it”, regrets Professor Antoine Magnan, president of the French Society of Allergology.
In Europe, France is an exception. In about fifteen neighboring countries (1), allergology is recognized as a medical specialty often associated with clinical immunology. In our country, the general practitioner, the pediatrician, the pulmonologist and the dermatologist who wish to practice allergology must undergo additional training.
Create a specific status
And the concern of allergists is far from being appeased by the reform of the 3th cycle of medical studies. While doctors were demanding that allergology become a specialty thanks to the creation of a diploma of specialized studies (DES) – the only provision that would make it possible to avoid the disappearance of these specialists – the second commission in charge of the reform did not follow.
But a beacon of hope has appeared over the past 15 days. “After joint consultations and reflections, it seems that things have changed,” rejoices Dr. Jean-François Fontaine, president of the National Association for Continuing Education in Allergology (ANAFORCAL). The creation of a real DES in allergology through a co-DES with internal medicine is envisaged”.
Jean-Francois Fontaine, President of the National Association for Continuing Education in Allergology: ” Allergology has become in certain cases extremely complex, the diseases are intricate. »
In addition to the recognition of the specialty, creating an allergology diploma in its own right will allow comprehensive and appropriate management of the allergic patient. Patients suffering from this complex pathology will not have to multiply appointments with different specialists according to their symptoms.
(1) Cyprus, Spain, Estonia, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania, United Kingdom, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland.
.
