Hopes were high as Nicolas Sarkozy sailed into high office a year ago. An impressive agenda and a multitude of seemingly radical proposals formed a manifesto for change, even « rupture », ie a radical break with past policies. Failure was not an option.
Today, accounts and results are far from conclusive ; and this includes healthcare policy where reform is largely non-existent ; words are not deeds.
A recent article in the Quotidien du Médecin (weekly for health professionals) wrote last week : « Indeed, the system of co-payments, vigorously opposed by public opinion, has been implemented but that’s about it. For the rest – be it hospitals, private sector physicians, financing of the public health insurance or the announced revolution through regional health authorities – we are kindly asked to await the autumn or even 2009. »
Well said. In truth, any wholesale reform of « the world’s best system » will have to tackle awesome vested interests, both private and public. Which is why the government is loath to launch any radical initiatives. As in education, the nominal « private » sector remains heavily tied to state authorities. And although reports have shown, quite recently, that productivity is substantially higher in the private hospital sector, the administration consistently squeezes private provision of health care.
And as for being world champion a couple of years ago (in the EHCI index:
www.healthpowerhouse.com/archives/cat_media_room.html
France slipped to third place this year. Something is happening ; let’s hope policy makers have noticed.
Today, accounts and results are far from conclusive ; and this includes healthcare policy where reform is largely non-existent ; words are not deeds.
A recent article in the Quotidien du Médecin (weekly for health professionals) wrote last week : « Indeed, the system of co-payments, vigorously opposed by public opinion, has been implemented but that’s about it. For the rest – be it hospitals, private sector physicians, financing of the public health insurance or the announced revolution through regional health authorities – we are kindly asked to await the autumn or even 2009. »
Well said. In truth, any wholesale reform of « the world’s best system » will have to tackle awesome vested interests, both private and public. Which is why the government is loath to launch any radical initiatives. As in education, the nominal « private » sector remains heavily tied to state authorities. And although reports have shown, quite recently, that productivity is substantially higher in the private hospital sector, the administration consistently squeezes private provision of health care.
And as for being world champion a couple of years ago (in the EHCI index:
www.healthpowerhouse.com/archives/cat_media_room.html
France slipped to third place this year. Something is happening ; let’s hope policy makers have noticed.
