The health system measures put into place in France to contain the spread of COVID-19 are:
– Financial support has been provided to the healthcare system: EUR 260 million (0.01% of GDP) for hospitals have been allocated out of unspent reserves in the 2019 budget. Payments of EUR 3.5 billion (0.14% of GDP) from the 2020 allocation have been brought forward (April instead of May)
– EUR 4.5 billion of additional funds for the purchase of equipment and other health expenses
– Creation of an additional emergency fund of EUR 50 million for research on Covid-19
– Overtime caps for health care professionals in hospitals have been removed, lifting the cap of 15 hours per month (i.e., 180 hours per year),
– Reduced regulatory barriers to the use of telemedicine, such as easing restrictions on reimbursement of consultations done by telephone or videoconference, which currently limit its use
– State requisition of protective masks stocks and future production to support in priority hospitals, town medicine and nurses
– Immediate postponement of non-urgent surgeries
– Mobilization of taxis and hotels for medical staff
– Allowed pharmacists to make their hydro alcoholic solutions and regulated their prices, as well as overtook the national stock and production of protective masks.
– A military health service hospital has been deployed in Alsace
– The military is helping move patients from the most affected regions to reduce local capacity needs.
The published information can be found here
