Medicine in France: WHO country No. 1

Today, 89% of French citizens believe that the state provides them with quality medical care, due to which the country has the highest average life expectancy in Europe, the lowest mortality from cardiovascular diseases and the highest fertility. The state spends 11.8% of its GDP on the health care system, ranking third with this indicator, behind only the United States and the Netherlands.

According to the World Health Organization, France ranks first in the world in terms of the development of medicine. In addition, the very first specialized university in Europe was opened in this country: in the current 2020, the University of Montpellier, located in the south of France, celebrates, no less than its 800th anniversary. Lord Guillaume VIII in 1180 signed a decree authorizing the teaching of medicine in the city, and 40 years later, Cardinal Conrad founded the first faculty, where for the first time in France and Europe they officially began to train medical specialists.

The first doctors in Europe studied at this university, among whom were Nostradamus and Franois Rabelais as well. Subsequently, other faculties began to appear at the university, but medical still holds a high standard, attracting many students from all over the world. Thanks to such a powerful educational foundation, Montpellier has become the medical capital of the country - people come to the city from Paris, Nice and other large cities, including for performing complex operations in local hospitals with doctors who have proven their name.

Health care system

Both public and private paid clinics operate in France. Usually each patient is assigned to a specific therapist who becomes the family doctor. It is he who writes prescriptions for medicines (antibiotics are not sold in pharmacies without a prescription), and also refers them to narrow-profile specialists. In the country, everything is automated: information about health and analyzes are sent to the family doctor, who can sign up for and get acquainted with the research data through a personal document on specialized Internet resources. Now a new direction of online consultations is actively developing in the country.

Hospitalization and emergency calls are covered depending on the insurance package. If this is not the case, then you will have to pay 100-150 euros for calling the ambulance. If we are talking about surgical intervention, then in France, at the discretion of the doctor, the patient is either left in the hospital under supervision, or immediately discharged home on the same day in the absence of complications. And then for the examination, the nurse will come to the place of residence.

Insurance

France has a compulsory health insurance system that affects both citizens of the country and those who permanently reside in its territory with the right to work. The functioning of this sphere is carried out by collecting 19.4% of income from local social security departments from all who are officially employed. In this case, a third of the insurance premium falls on the employee, the rest is paid by the employer. If the income is below the subsistence level (its size is now 1,539 euros per month), then you can get a free insurance policy, which will also include dental services.

Since 2020, such insurance also began to cover free prosthetics, but for this the patient will need to provide many documents confirming the necessary status of a person who needs to receive appropriate treatment. Students living in France for less than 183 days a year do not have access to the public health care system, but can purchase a private health insurance policy.

Government insurance covers about 70% of the costs, and the remaining 30% through contracts with private insurance companies. At the same time, there are cases of 100% coverage of all costs in the event of expensive or long-term illnesses. The minimum insurance package starts from 45 euros per month. And since food and accommodation in a simple French hospital costs about 18 euros per day, so many try to pay for additional insurance, which includes these costs. As for foreign students, they previously used preferential health insurance, which cost 15-30 euros per month. Since September last year, they have been attached to a compulsory free insurance company.

In January 2016, France introduced a new health insurance system called Protection Maladie Universelle (PUMA), replacing the previously existing Couverture Maladie Universelle (CMU) system. These changes have significantly simplified the process of obtaining access by foreign citizens to medical care in France. According to the innovation, residents of France receive state health insurance if they have lived in the country for at least 3 consecutive months. All residents of France have unlimited access to health care, regardless of age, medical history and the amount of the country's social security contributions. The old system of health insurance for foreigners was available to expats only if a number of conditions were met, and if changed, it was necessary to reapply for health insurance for a different category of persons. PUMA guarantees that residents will retain their right to health care even if their personal circumstances change. In addition, the new program will equalize the rights of citizens of the EU and other countries to receive a health insurance card (carte vitale).

If a foreigner lives in France with a residence permit without the right to work, then he fully pays the cost of insurance, if he does not want to purchase it, then he pays for each appointment with a doctor. For example, a visit to a therapist will cost from 23 to 35 euros, a simple filling at the dentist costs about 40 euros. In this case, you can always consult a pharmacist at a pharmacy and buy a non-prescription medicine according to his recommendations.

Balneological resorts

France is also famous for its thermal springs, there are about 50 of them in the country. A significant part of them is suitable for the treatment of the musculoskeletal system: for example, Balaruc-les-Bains, which is located in the Herault department on the Mediterranean Sea, 29 km from Montpellier. It is the first thermal spa in France and the only one in the Mediterranean to be approved for the treatment of rheumatological and phlebological problems.

On the southern shore of Lake Geneva, on the border with Switzerland, at the foot of the Alps, there is the world-famous Evian-les-Bains, whose healing waters gave the name to the popular brand of Evian mineral water. Since the 19th century, the resort has been chosen by celebrities who regularly come here not only to improve their health, but also to immerse themselves in high life. In addition to the unique qualities of the local water, Evian-les-Bains attracts vacationers with its luxurious restaurants, boutiques, one of the largest casinos in Europe, endless golf courses and numerous international conferences.

Thank you for your help in preparing the material:

Irina Dvinina, director of Francedom

Tatiana Vorobyova, director of the Dom Sur Mer company