BMJ  2008;336:254-257 (2 February), doi:10.1136/bmj.39451.406123.AD

Analysis

Looking to Europe

Can France keep its patients happy?

¹ National Authority for Health (HAS), 93218 Saint-Denis La Plaine Cedex, Paris, France

The French healthcare system gets high satisfaction ratings but is becoming more difficult to fund. Laurent Degos and colleagues examinethe challenges of keeping citizens content and improving cost effectiveness

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Less than a year ago, when Nicolas Sarkozy was running for president, health was not a priority. Indeed Le Monde, a leading French newspaper, carried the headline: "Health, the missing item in Nicolas Sarkozy’s reforms."¹ The reason for this omission may have been that the French health system is largely well perceived by citizens and users. However, the recent debate over the introduction of further non-reimbursable charges of 0.50 (£0.37; $0.75) for each drug packet and paramedical services such as physiotherapy, which came into effect at the beginning of this year, suggests that this satisfaction could become eroded.² This article outlines the structure of France’s health system, analyses patients’ perceptions of it, and comments on the challenges it faces, not least with containing the high costs.

Overview of French health system

The French health system (box) is financed mainly by employers and employees through social contributions. It is characterised by ease of access . . . [Full text of this article]

Box 1 French health system³

French citizens’ satisfaction

How good is health care in France?

Box 2 Emergency medical assistance in France¹³

Safer care?

How to guarantee sustainability and fairness

Enhancing quality and efficiency in the system

Future challenges

Summary points

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Tony Delamothe
BMJ 2008 336: 0. [Extract] [Full Text]