Medical deserts: France takes new step in 'solidarity mission' to increase doctors in 151 red zones
A new step has been taken in the implementation of the "mandatory solidarity mission" for doctors, the key measure of the "pact" announced by French Prime Minister François Bayrou on April 25 to combat the issue of medical deserts – areas with insufficient healthcare services. On Friday, June 27, the Ministry of Health unveiled a map of the areas that will benefit from the support of general practitioners for up to two days per month starting in September. These doctors will come from better-equipped areas to lend a hand to those in need. This is a sensitive issue and is sure to be closely scrutinized, at a time when access to healthcare is deteriorating in many areas.
In departments such as Creuse, Yonne, Indre, Cher, Gers, Tarn and Aude, 151 intercommunalities were selected using a composite indicator that takes into account both needs and existing resources to calculate a "cumulative fragility" score. Factors considered include medical density (measured by an indicator called "localized potential accessibility," weighted by professionals' activity levels and the population's age), the proportion of residents with long-term illnesses, the travel time to the nearest emergency department and household income levels.
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