French health workers call for urgent action as public hospitals collapse: People’s Daily

On Thursday, September 22, health workers and those working in related sectors in France organized demonstrations and protests in various cities across the country as part of the National Day of Action. The protesters demanded higher wages, more workers, improved and safer working conditions, job security and adequate funding and other resources for hospitals. The call of the movement, including those presented by several groups in the health sector French Association of Emergency Physicians (AMUF), CGT health social actionof CFE CGC Health-Social, Spring of Psychiatry And Emergency kit. Demonstrations were held in Paris, Marseille, Nancy, Tours, Poitiers, Angers, Lille and Nantes, among other cities. The Communist Party of France (PCF) and La France Insomité (LFI) gave support and solidarity to the protestors.

According to reports, the public health sector in France is facing a serious crisis, marked by a severe lack of resources, including staff, essential infrastructure and funds. Even before the start of the Covid-19 crisis in the country, health workers were organized. Provocations Pointing out these issues. The Covid-19 crisis had worsened. situation. French President Emmanuel Macron’s reforms and measures such as ‘Health Segur (Consultation Process in the Health Sector) and ‘My health 2022 Nor has ‘My Health 2022’ brought many benefits to the health sector and workers. Meanwhile, the rising cost of living due to the increase in fuel and food prices has also affected health professionals.

In July, Damien Modet and Nathalie Oziol, representatives of the left-wing New Ecological and Social People’s Union (NUPES) coalition, launched a campaign “#Alosegur“Representatives in Hospitals” were part of a commission of inquiry that collected testimonies from health professionals in public hospitals. Employees He stated that they are. They are physically and mentally exhausted and are paid less than what is needed to keep up with inflation. The hospitals do not have enough beds, so many key positions remain vacant. Services have been cut, emergency rooms have closed, and more workers are leaving the public sector to join private hospitals.

Lately, there have been reports of delays in treatment at public hospitals, leading to deaths. Earlier this week, the General Confederation of Labor (CGT) issued an official statement condemning the appalling working conditions at Nantes University Hospital. According to reports, an 81-year-old man died on September 1 at the Strasbourg New Civil Hospital (NCC) after spending 20 hours on a stretcher in the emergency room.

Dr. Christophe Prudhomme, emergency physician and regional councilor of the LFI in Ile de France, while participating in a protest by health workers on September 22. They spoke “Macron takes another 5,700 hospital beds amid health crisis,” the media reported. This turns into death. As a doctor I help the family of a patient who died in Strasbourg after waiting 22 hours on a stretcher in the corridor.

On September 15, Dr. Prudhomme claimed that there were approximately 2,000 nursing positions open. Help Publique Hopitaux de Paris (AP-HP) and 20-30% of operating rooms are closed.

“What is the minister doing? He is giving us a media show called a ‘stakeholder conference’! Enough of this. The needs of staff are well known. We demand concrete answers in an urgent parliamentary debate to stop the collapse of our health system,” said Dr Prudhomme.

CGT Health and Social Action General Secretary Mireille Stivala said: “There is no real will when it comes to recruitment and we need a comprehensive recruitment plan. When we set up recruitment offices in front of the hospitals, we collect work experience… We also need to give the students real contracts, paying them at least the equivalent of the SMIC (legal minimum hourly wage).

The CGT estimated that public hospitals would need to employ 100,000 workers and 200,000 additional workers for Dependent Elderly Care (EPHA). He called on health professionals to join the national movement of professionals called by CGT to increase their wages and increase their purchasing power.