How to attract young doctors in areas where there is a shortage? The Occitanie region is banking on salaried employment. Its ambition is to recruit a total of 200 health professionals by the end of the mandate, in 2028. These professionals will be paid by a public interest grouping that brings together local authorities and the Region. The system is now in effect: the first general practitioners have just set up practice. One in Salviac, in the Lot. And two at the brand new health center in Sainte-Croix-Volvestre, in Ariè;ge. They will soon be joined by a third general practitioner, who will also offer gynecological consultations.

Salaried employment is increasingly attractive to young doctors

In this area, there was no general practitioner since last December, so obviously the appointment book of the new health center is already well filled. The premises are still temporary for the moment; the health professionals will then move to more permanent premises a few meters above.

In the meantime, doctors Béranger Hirondelle and Nicolas Vojinovitch receive patients in prefabs. They also visit patients at home and in Ehpad. Both of them were attracted by the promise of salaried work. They would probably not have started out in private practice. Indeed, this salaried position allows them not to deal with administrative tasks, and to concentrate solely on the medical field. This is the number one argument that convinced them, they say. According to a study conducted in Occitania, they are not the only ones: nearly 30% of doctors who have completed their training now wish to become salaried. The proportion of salaried health professionals, all specialties combined, is continually increasing.

Several installations in Occitania by the end of the year

After the Lot and Ariège, other departments will in turn welcome doctors employed by the Region by the end of the year. The next installation is scheduled for September, in Millas in the Pyrénées-Orientales. Other installations will follow in Comminges (Haute-Garonne), Gard, and Tarn.

The Sainte-Croix-Volvestre health center is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 8am to 12pm and then from 12:30pm to 7pm; and Wednesday and Friday from 8am to 12pm and then from 12:30pm to 6pm.

Source: francebleu.fr