France: Olivier Véran promises "far-reaching" measures to reform the hospital

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The Minister of Health Olivier Véran estimated this Wednesday, May 20 that the government had not been "fast enough" and "strong enough" in the reform of hospitals in recent years, promising measures of "scope" as part of the "Ségur de la santé".

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The government will draw "no later than mid-July" the conclusions of the "  Ségur de la santé  ", which is due to start on May 25, and will be coordinated by the former head of the CFDT Nicole Notat, said the Minister of Health. "  On May 25, I will initiate a concertation with the actors of the health system so that they can share their vision of the health system, what must be improved, what must be preserved  ", explained Olivier Véran.

Our method in refounding our coming healthcare system will of course be listening. Our ambition will be to provide caregivers with essential recognition.

Olivier Véran, Minister of Health

RFI

This "Ségur de la santé", named after the avenue where the ministry is located, was announced Friday by Emmanuel Macron, who said he wanted to "  put an end  " to the "  impoverishment  " of nursing staff, ensuring that the State would be at the "  appointment  ". According to the minister, however, the discussions will not be limited to hospitals: they will integrate the issue of old age, city care and the organization of the health system as a whole.  

Wage rises

With the law “  My health 2022  ”, adopted in 2019, “we made the right diagnosis, we took the right directions. But we were neither fast enough nor strong enough, ”said Olivier Véran - like Emmanuel Macron before him. "  This will go through an increase in salaries in hospitals and nursing homes,  " he promised, saying - without however advancing a figure - wanting to "  better value  " the "  careers  " of nursing staff.

The Minister finally confirmed the recovery of a third of the hospital debt, an "  effort of 13 billion euros  ", promised last year. It will be accompanied by a "  new investment plan  " for hospitals, he said. A busy schedule, under a tight schedule and under pressure, with several calls to strike or to protest in the coming days.

We don't want a bonus. It has been several years, and especially in recent months, that we have said that we want salary increases.

Aïcha Akoun, nurse at Saint-Antoine hospital in Paris reacts to Olivier Véran's statement

RFI

As of Thursday, a rally is scheduled at 1:30 p.m. in front of Robert-Debré Hospital in Paris. The SUD-Santé syndicate of the Paris Hospitals (AP-HP) calls to stop work on Monday and the CGT of the Hospitals of Marseille (AP-HM) filed a notice for Tuesday. In Bordeaux, rallies are planned in front of two CHU sites on May 26 and 28, at the call of the FO, CGT and SUD unions.

(With AFP)

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