Covering an area of 850 m², the Louvigné-du-Désert medical center offers 13 consultation spaces. Inaugurated in December, it has so far attracted only one doctor.
Like many rural areas in France, the canton of Louvigné (Ille-et-Vilaine) suffers from a growing deficit in the medical sector, particularly for doctors. Faced with this observation, an association of health professionals was formed to develop a local health project aimed at developing cooperation and attracting new practitioners. The result of this approach is the multidisciplinary medical center of Louvigné du Désert (4,000 inhabitants). It opened its doors in October 2015. Inaugurated on Wednesday, December 21, elected officials and citizens only expect doctors.
Indeed, despite a beautiful surface area of 850 m², the project has so far attracted only one practitioner, Dr. de Montigny, a general practitioner. The structure can however accommodate 13 consultation spaces, as well as shared spaces for health professionals. A practice of liberal nurses, a pedicure-pedologist, an osteopath, and three speech therapists have already taken over the premises. But the other two treatment rooms dedicated to general practitioners remain desperately empty, despite attractive rents. As a result, Dr. de Montigny is quite alone in her medical activity, while the project was developed for patients from eight municipalities, i.e. more than 8,500 inhabitants.
Advantageous financial arrangements
In an attempt to seduce practitioners, the Community of Communes recalls that Louvigné of the Desert is classified as a priority area in terms of lack of healthcare supply by the Regional Health Agency (ARS). By choosing to settle there, doctors will therefore be able to benefit from several advantageous financial arrangements (1). The offer for positions also emphasizes that the territory has all the local shops, schools, colleges, a cinema, a cultural center, etc. In short, so many arguments to put an end to a situation that is all the more worrying as doctors are expected to retire in 2017.
In 2015, the Order of Physicians (CNOM) listed 192 medical deserts in which nearly 2.5 million people live.
(1) Assistance for the activity, paid by the CPAM, equal to 10% of the amount of the activity (capped at €20,000) for doctors practicing within a group, together with assistance for investment of €5,000 per year for 3 years; – An additional income guaranteeing a minimum income of €6,900 gross monthly in the event of the conclusion of a contract as a territorial general practitioner with the ARS; – An income tax exemption of up to 60 days per year for income received from outpatient care (PDSA); – Settlement aid allocated by the community (example: grant for the purchase of equipment).
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