No sooner had the outlines of the “renewed relationship” between the Ministry of Health and the private hospital sector (also read previous article) been sketched out than a double political explosion – the results of the European elections and the dissolution of the National Assembly – hit our negotiating trajectories. Nevertheless, this week, hospital federations of all types met with the Minister for Health and his administration to work on the multi-year resources protocol, which we all hope to see implemented as soon as possible.
Obviously, a federation such as ours cannot operate in a political and institutional context that is weightless. We work on a daily basis and in complete transparency with members of parliament, who call on our expertise through numerous hearings and requests for contributions on a wide range of issues. During the exceptional mobilisation of our sector that followed the tariff announcements, we enjoyed the support of many elected representatives for a very simple reason: we are major players in the provision of healthcare in their areas.
In addition, through the public service missions we fulfil, we serve the values of healthcare. These values are clearly expressed in our raison d’être, which was enshrined in the FHP’s articles of association in June 2022, setting out in particular “establishments open to all” and the commitment of private clinics and hospitals “to providing equal access to healthcare throughout the country”.
The social model to which we subscribe, throughout France, is one of unconditional hospitality, at the bedside of all forms of vulnerability: it was with this in mind that, in a press release last November, we were keen to defend State Medical Aid. There is no doubt that it is worth reiterating the importance of this dimension of fraternity, shared with all those involved in healthcare, at a time when the political future of our country is at stake.
We are also healthcare companies, and we want to continue to invest and innovate in the service of patients in a stable and trusting environment. As Medef, the first network of entrepreneurs in France, rightly said in a statement published previously, we cannot collectively “take the risk of financial instability and mistrust from our economic partners”.
Access to healthcare, prevention, palliative care, mental health… The challenges are immense. So let’s be careful not to play the sorcerer’s apprentice at the expense of public health.
Article published on FHP LinkedIn
