DOCTORS STRIKE. Liberal doctors, mainly general practitioners, started a new strike on Monday January 2, 2023. Why and until when?
Regardless of the various epidemics affecting France, they have decided to make themselves heard. Perhaps even at the best time, at a time when consultations for the flu, bronchiolitis or even the Covid are legion. The doctors have entered a new week of strike since this Monday, January 2, 2023, after a first movement carried out at the beginning of December, followed by a new challenge during the end-of-year holidays, between Christmas and New Year. “With many of regret and bitterness” according to the words of the group Doctors for tomorrow, at the origin of the initiative, a new week of strike is carried out by the liberal doctors.
The movement is therefore organized at least until Sunday January 8 because “the government unfortunately did not deign to pay attention to us despite this first week of strike. On the contrary, we were even unfairly lectured by our minister (François Braun, Minister of Health, editor’s note).” And not only. The head of government also went there with her criticism. “I can hear that they may encounter difficulties, that they may wish for improvements, but it is really not responsible to strike, especially in this festive period, where it has increased the tensions on the hospital” , tackled Elisabeth Borne on France info Tuesday, January 3.
Why are liberal doctors on strike?
As from the beginning, the members of this collective are calling for an increase in the prices of consultations, a reduction in their administrative tasks or even incentives to reduce the number of medical deserts. The first claim is the one that crystallizes the most tensions. The doctors are demanding a doubling of the amount of the visit, going from 25 to 50€.
It is difficult to make such a claim heard by public opinion in a context of soaring daily prices and when access to care is not given to everyone. But for professionals, it’s not about getting rich. “It’s to have better working conditions” indicated Morgane Migoux, general practitioner in Condat-sur-Vienne (Haute-Vienne), to France 3 New Aquitainehighlighting the possibility, thus, of recruiting a medical secretary in charge of administrative tasks, “which is impossible if you are an isolated doctor, or only two in a cabinet”, according to his words.
This subject, as well as the other claims, which are currently the subject of discussions between the liberal doctors and the health insurance, negotiations for the new agreement between the two parties for the next five years being in progress. It must be signed by March 2023.