Covid-19: angry, biologists will no longer send the tests back to the government

Europe 1 with AFP 3:29 p.m., December 31, 2022

Considering "the dialogue blocked" with the National Health Insurance Fund, the biology laboratories will no longer report from January 2 the results of the Covid tests which allow the government to follow the evolution of the epidemic, indicated on Saturday their unions in a statement to AFP.

“Patients will be able to continue to be tested in the laboratories but the government will not receive any data feedback” in the national file, they specify.

"If that is not enough, we are considering a new national strike over several days and the total cessation of Covid acts for an indefinite period. We would like not to come to that for access to care for our patients, (it's is) now up to the government to take responsibility and not take the population hostage,” they say.

"A Black January"

"It's a black January to avoid black years", they plead.

Biologists, who have greatly increased their profits with Covid tests, dispute the amount of savings that will be asked of them in return in the coming years.

If a compromise seems in sight on the budgetary puncture for the year 2023, up to 250 million euros (divided between Covid tests and other examinations) as wanted by the government, the negotiation is blocked over the period 2024-2026.

Social Security, however, puts on the table an envelope of 150 million over three years, to reimburse "innovative acts" currently reserved for hospitals.

But without specifying the amount of savings expected on other acts, referred to "the signing of a multi-year protocol before the end of the first half".

But biologists have already set their red line in terms of price reductions: no more than 145 million euros per year.

Going beyond "would lead to the closure of at least 400 local laboratories (and) the elimination of at least 10,000 skilled jobs", they say.