Many GPs are taking strike action today against the reforms proposed by the minister of health, Marysol Touraine. One of their principal complaints is the introduction of the "tiers payant" system, which is familiar to us when we use the pharmacy. Generally no cash is needed when you collect your prescription, just your carte vitale and complementaire. The chemist is paid by the Secu and the insurance companies. At the doctor you still hand over your 23 euros and you are reimbursed by those bodies. Doctors are afraid that this system will delay payment to them and also encourage unnecessary visits to the surgery. GPs threaten to continue action into the new year.
Malc says: I recently discussed this with my GP when he was pleased to see I had the correct money. He personally was not opposed to the change, but still firmly believed in "paiment a l'acte" as opposed to the British system of free at the point of delivery. We complain about the NHS bureaucracy but this French system must be more wasteful - or am I mistaken?
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