French vote for new patient charges

The French National Assembly has backed the highly controversial introduction of non-reimbursable charges - the so-called franchise regimes - for drugs, paramedical care and patient transport (Marketletters passim). The charges will take effect from January 1 next year.

The Assembly vote went 44 to 27 in favor as part of the 2008 social security finance measures. The aim of the charges is to help reduce the health budget short fall, with an overall social security deficit estimated at 12.0 billion euros ($17.28 billion) for the current year.

Drug charges will be 0.50 euros per item and, along with the other levies, will be expected to save 850.0 million euros in 2008. Savings will be used to help fund Alzheimer's disease and cancer treatment programs, as well as palliative care. A survey in September showed that 70% of the French public was opposed to the charges. These have now been fixed at a maximum of 50 euros per year for each patient.