According to a CISS survey, one in ten French people have already thought about seeking treatment in another country to avoid overly expensive care and too long waiting times.
If the French do not hesitate to go to their European neighbors to buy cheap cigarettes or to end their life, medical tourism abroad is still marginal. Indeed, according to a survey carried out in early October by the Interassociative Collective on Health, 11% have already thought of seeking treatment abroad but only 2% have taken action.
An attachment to the French health system
For this survey, more than 1,200 French people over the age of 18 were questioned. The majority of them said they had never felt the need for treatment outside the borders. If the latter do not doubt the quality of the host health establishments abroad or the skills of the professionals working there, 36% doubt the effectiveness in monitoring care and 24% think that recourse to care following an accident will not be covered. In addition, 31% of the inhabitants of the Hexagon declared themselves very attached to the health system of their country. The cost of travel or the language barrier can also be a deterrent.
Too long waiting times
However, a small percentage (11%) said they were in favor of receiving care abroad. 66% cite the cost that is too high in France, not reimbursed by health insurance and 31% of waiting times that are too long. Criteria that mainly apply to dental and eye care.
According to the CISS survey, the people most likely to take the plunge are individuals with incomes of less than € 1,500 as well as residents of border departments, particularly in the North-East region (16%).
These people still remain in the minority. “Most of our fellow citizens are aware of the quality problems that recourse to healthcare abroad can pose. They attach importance to practicing their care in France, to contribute to the quality of the French health system and to the activity of the professionals who practice there. It is therefore essential to collectively provide ourselves with the means to support this source of economic activity which is jointly financed ”. concludes the CISS.
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