Yasmina Kattou, edited by Yanis Darras with AFP 08:22, January 28, 2023

After a first mobilization last December, the unions of liberal doctors are calling for a new day of strike on February 14.

In question, the negotiations developed between them and health insurance, but also the challenge against the bill opening "direct access" to physiotherapists and certain nurses.

Stalled negotiations and angry liberal doctors.

After a first strike at the end of 2022, practitioners are once again preparing to close their practices.

A day of mobilization has been announced for February 14, as negotiations between the unions and health insurance have been skating for a week.

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"It is essential to give back to city medicine resources commensurate with the challenges", insist the unions in a letter sent to Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, denouncing a 2023 budget "well below inflation", but also the recent vote on a bill opening "direct access" to physiotherapists and certain nurses, and creating a "collective obligation" of care in the evening and on weekends for all of these liberal caregivers.

Raising wages

"A medical skill is acquired, it is not transferred, in particular because the studies of physiotherapists, pharmacists and nurses in advanced practice are not at all made so that health professionals can receive patients in direct access. and prescribe", explains to the microphone of Europe 1, doctor Mokhtaria Alikada.

With this new regulation, "there could be missed diagnoses. And above all, there could really be a loss of chances for the patient who will not benefit from the expertise of a doctor", warns the practitioner.

There is only one solution for the latter, in order to "increase the number of doctors: it is necessary to revalue (salaries). The doctors who will see their fees revalued will settle down and that will create a shock of attractiveness. And there, no need to transfer skills that cannot be transferred", concludes Mokhtaria Alikada. 

An argument already put forward by the liberal doctors, during their first strike action months ago, who demanded the passage of the consultation to 50 euros, against 25 currently.