France gears up to fight health insurance debts

France's president, Jacques Chirac, has promised a drastic overhaul of the health insurance branch of France's social security, which has reached a record cumulated deficit of Fr 90.7bn (pounds sterling11.5bn). The system, now chiefly financed by employers and employees, will in future be financed from all sources of income “whatever their origin and nature.”

In addition, not only people who contribute or who are covered by specific government programmes will benefit from health insurance; all those who are legal residents in France will also benefit. About half a million people are estimated …