Marisol Touraine has new reasons not to give in on the generalized third-party payment set out in its Health Bill. According to an Opinionway survey, 63% of the population, i.e. two out of three French people, are in favor of this measure, which will allow them to benefit from a waiver of advance fees during a consultation with the general practitioner by 2017.
Carried out at the request of the main union of general practitioners MG France, the survey does not fail to serve the medical professions which are firmly opposed to it. Of the sample of 1,006 people questioned, representing the French population, 28% answered “yes absolutely” to the question “personally, would you like to be exempted from having to advance the cost of the consultation with your general practitioner?” “. 35% answered “yes rather”, against only 12% “not at all”.
Unsurprisingly, the proportion of people in favor of this exemption from advance fees “is more important among low incomes and employees/workers”, notes the survey. It even reaches 71% among people whose income is less than €2,000 per month, compared to 44% among those who earn at least €3,500.
And when we know that 25% of French people admit to having already given up on a medical consultation based on its cost (Barometer 2015 on the rights of patients from the Collectif inter-associatif pour la santé), generalized third-party payment would be useful.
However, MG France recalls “that it will not support a device that would complicate the life of doctors”. For the unions of doctors who will demonstrate on March 15, this measure will lead to administrative setbacks and will complicate their reimbursement to the mutual and health insurance.
Worried patients in rural areas
The survey also reveals that 55% of respondents believe that it will be difficult to find a doctor if theirs retires. These difficulties are more pronounced for patients rural communes and agglomerations of 20,000 to 100,000 inhabitants.
In addition to generalized third-party payment, the French would also like “a quick and easy appointment to obtain” (62%) and “a long-term relationship” (52%). Half of the respondents would also like “to be able to carry out certain additional examinations” (ultrasound, electrocardiograms, etc.) with their general practitioner.
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