The Minister of Health announces around 400 million euros in new measures

The Minister of Health, François Braun, announced on Wednesday new measures “in the order of 400 million euros” to deal with the problems of the hospital sector, and in particular pediatric services, during a press conference. .

To respond to the “worrying situation” in hospitals linked to a “worrying” bronchiolitis epidemic, the Minister announced in particular the doubling of the remuneration of night hours for “all hospital staff” until March 31, in order to “recognize the commitment of professionals” and “the hardship of night work”.

in addition, all caregivers who work in critical care services will be able to benefit from the “critical care bonus” put in place during Covid. Some health professionals were excluded, such as childcare workers. The granting of this bonus to these pediatric service professionals was one of the demands made by the heads of pediatric intensive care units.

François Braun also announced the extension of the measures put in place this summer as part of the “flash mission”, such as aid for city medicine and medical regulation.

In addition to the 150 million promised in October

These “immediate and strong measures” represent an amount “of the order of 400 million euros”, which will be added to the envelope of 150 million euros promised in October by the government to support “services in tension from the hospital, said the minister. The regional intervention funds of the Regional Health Agencies (ARS) will also be mobilized to target specific needs in certain territories.

These solutions, which aim “to recognize the unfailing investment of our hospital professionals”, will be discussed again within the framework of the work carried out by the National Council for Refoundation launched at the beginning of October by the government. The National Pediatrics Conference scheduled for spring 2023 should allow the development of the sector’s roadmap for the years to come, explained the Minister.

On October 22, more than 7,000 pediatric caregivers sent an open letter to Emmanuel Macron to alert him to the saturation of hospital services linked to the bronchiolitis epidemic but also to the lack of resources and personnel.