A new zoning system has been put in place by the Regional Health Agency to fight against medical deserts, especially in the Pays de la Loire where the shortage of practitioners occupies a large part of the territory.
In May 2017, MG France, the union of general practitioners, had announced that a new plan would be put in place to fight against medical desertification in certain regions of France. That’s done. Since the 1er January 2018, the Regional Health Agency (ARS) set up a new zoning system in Pays de la Loire to help install doctors.
Territories in deficit, the north and south-east of Mayenne now appear on the new map in dark orange as “priority intervention” zones. The rest of the department has been colored in light orange, the color attributed to the “complementary action” area. The finding is alarming: 46% of Pays de la Loire are affected by a shortage of practitioners, or risk being so in the coming years. At present, there is one doctor for every 2,500 people in Mayenne, while the average is one doctor for 800 patients.
Financial aid and transition contracts
This new zoning system allows general practitioners to identify areas in need. A practitioner settling in a full-time “priority intervention” area for a period of at least 5 years will receive installation assistance of € 50,000: the first half upon arrival and the second half upon arrival. Next year. An increase of 2,500 euros is provided for in the event of exercise in a local hospital. According to the Regional Health Agency, this zoning system could be extended in 2018 to other medical professions such as midwives and physiotherapists.
Then there are the transition contracts granted for a period of three years (renewable once) to approved physicians at the end of their career, practicing in an under-dense area and welcoming in their practice a private practitioner approved under 50. year. Compensation will also be paid to practitioners welcoming young doctors on internship to encourage the new generation. A bill will also be presented on January 18 to the National Assembly by the Mayenne deputy Guillaume Garot to fight against the shortages of general practitioners in certain regions.
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