Today’s blog article addresses a topical subject that provokes strong reactions: the elimination of state medical aid (AME) voted by the Senate during the examination of the immigration bill. This decision has aroused concern among healthcare staff and migrant aid associations, who highlight the health consequences and the potential saturation of the public hospital.
The AME, established in 2000, allows foreigners in an irregular situation to benefit from access to care in France. This system, reserved for people who can demonstrate a low level of resources and a residence of at least three months in the country, has been targeted by politicians to reduce public spending.
However, many players in the health sector denounce this decision. The French Hospital Federation (FHF) describes the abolition of the AME as “humanitarian, health and financial heresy”. According to them, limiting access to care for migrants will have direct consequences on their health, but also on that of the entire population.
Indeed, the abolition of the AME could lead to a deterioration in the state of health of migrants who would delay their medical consultations for fear of financial costs. This could lead to more advanced and potentially contagious diseases for society as a whole.
Furthermore, on an economic level, the abolition of the AME will not avoid expenses linked to the care of migrants in precarious situations, but will transfer them to public hospitals which will have to take care of them, without having a specific budget. for that.
Finally, it should be noted that the AME represents only 0.5% of the Social Security budget, i.e. a very small fraction of public expenditure. The decision to abolish the AME by the Senate therefore seems motivated more by political considerations than by a real economic necessity.
In conclusion, the abolition of state medical aid arouses strong criticism from healthcare personnel and migrant aid associations. This decision highlights public health and social responsibility issues. It is essential to guarantee access to care for all, regardless of their administrative status, in order to preserve the health of the entire population.