Lille (AFP)
A derogation of homeopathy would be a "false good idea", which would undermine the "purchasing power" and the "freedom of choice of patients", judges Thursday Xavier Bertrand in a letter to Emmanuel Macron, calling him to at least "maintain a rate of 15%".
Health Minister Agnès Buzyn said on Tuesday that the government would decide "in the coming days" to debit or not homeopathy, after an opinion of the High Health Authority (HAS) advocating this derogation. In this highly anticipated opinion, delivered last Friday, the HAS considered that homeopathic products "have not scientifically demonstrated sufficient effectiveness to justify a refund".
"You know my position (...) constant since 2005, when I declared: + derogate homeopathy would be a false good idea +", writes the president of Hauts-de-France (ex-LR) and former Minister of Health Xavier Bertrand in this letter to the President of the Republic, which AFP has knowledge.
On the one hand, while "patients are millions" to use homeopathic products and doctors "thousands" to prescribe, a derembourserment would lead "a transfer of prescriptions on conventional medicine which, economically, would cost more "he says.
The disbursement would weigh particularly on the "purchasing power" of the French, he continues: "indeed (...) it is our fellow citizens who have recourse to homeopathy who will have to pay this expense that can raise to several tens of euros per month ". The price would also increase "automatically", with a higher VAT for products not reimbursed, adds the elected.
In this case, "freedom of choice for patients, essential (...) can not be guaranteed," he laments.
If no study has proved the effectiveness of homeopathy, Agnès Buzyn "could engage" such studies, finally suggests Xavier Bertrand, calling the President of the Republic to maintain at least "a rate of 15%", as put in place in 2006, compared to 30% today for some homeopathic medicines.
? 2019 AFP