Half of all French people have opted out of healthcare for financial reasons

Yesterday, just a few weeks after it unveiled its 5 billion euro healthcare reforms, the Fédération hospitalière de France (FHF) lauched its after-sales service in the form of an "equal access to healthcare observatory". A big name for what is essentially just a survey from the Ipsos institute, but whose results highlight the growing disparity in this area among French people. It showed that 92% of those surveyed feel "those with money are more likely to be well cared for" and 74% think that "not all patients are made aware of medical advances and better treatments". This feeling of inequality is still more heightened among 18-25 year olds. And even more worrying is the fact that nearly one French person in two has "already chosen not to have a consultation or undergo treatment or examination because of the cost involved". That figure then rises to 67% for those with an income below 1500 euros.