Midazolam, a powerful sedative hitherto reserved for hospital use, will be available within four months in city pharmacies for "doctors who care for patients at the end of their life at home", announced Monday the Ministry of Health.
The High Authority for Health (HAS) had published a recommendation Monday morning to this effect, because if the law in theory authorizes "deep and continuous sedation until death" at home, the treatments used to implement it are today very difficult to access outside the hospital.
A legal framework to be strengthened
Midazolam injectable, a tranquilizer authorized as an anesthetic product and as a sedative before an operation, is also recommended as first-line treatment by the HAS to implement this "deep and continuous sedation", in hospitals and in the city.
But, "in the latter case, it appears that the availability of these drugs is not fully effective and that the legal framework for their dispensation deserves to be strengthened", recognizes the ministry in a press release, after the publication of the HAS opinion.
Almost 4 in 10 deaths at home
To allow the dispensation of midazolam in city pharmacies, the Medicines Agency (ANSM) "will modify its marketing authorization," said the ministry. He thus intends to "respond to the request of patients and their families to be able to choose to end their days at home".
City doctors taking charge of this type of care will have to "enter into an agreement with a mobile team or a hospital palliative care service in order to guarantee collegiality of the decision as well as support and follow-up for patients," added the ministry.
The construction of the next palliative care development plan, mentioned by Agnès Buzyn in early January, will be finalized "before the end of the first semester", he also announced. Almost 4 out of 10 French people die at home or in nursing homes, according to the Ministry of Health.
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