France’s PM Edouard Philippe announces free health assessment for vulnerable patients at risk of coronavirus

France’s PM Edouard Philippe announces free health assessment for vulnerable patients at risk of coronavirus

THE French Ministry of Health has announced a free health check for vulnerable patients. The usual €46 cost of a special health consultation offered to older patients, people with cancer and pregnant women will be covered by the French health insurance system.

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announced the ‘assessment and vigilance’ consultation when he unveiled the Phase 2 of deconfinement following the coronavirus lockdown.

The consultation is particularly intended for, “those who have not consulted their doctor during the period of confinement and who must imperatively do so, in order to check that their state of health does not require special surveillance, special measures or treatment,” said Philippe.

It will be available to anyone over the age of 65, and those living with conditions that could make them vulnerable the COVID infection.

The published decree lists anyone with a history of cardiovascular problems; diabetes; chronic respiratory disease; chronic kidney failure requiring dialysis; progressive cancer under treatment; obesity; immunosuppression conditions; and women in the third trimester of pregnancy, as those who may benefit from this.

This appointment will allow doctors, “to assess the impact of confinement on the health of patients and to ensure continuity of care”, to “advise people, according to their fragility and pathologies on the protective measures to be adopted in the context of deconfinement,” said the Health Ministry.