The European Semester and health equity Findings from the Recovery and Resilience Plans in eight EU Member States

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Key findings from interviews with experts

  • From analysing the Country Report, experts pointed out that differences between regions, such as the uneven distribution of health professionals across France, are of major concern.

  • Intersectoral collaboration is continuously being strengthened between the social and health sector, especially regarding the provision of long-term care (community-based care).

  • Experts also noted that public health issues such as prevention and health promotion were given relatively low attention in the French health agenda. However, this is currently being reviewed by the new Health and Prevention Minister. Increased funding, as well as a number of important cross-sectorial initiatives alongside the RRP are to be expected.

The French Recovery and Resilience Plan A short overview

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POLICY AREA 9: Resilient health systems, long-term care autonomy policies and territorial cohesion
INVESTMENTS RRF (m/€)
Modernisation and restructuring of the care offer 2,500
Real-estate investment plan in medico-social establishments 1.500
Digitalisation in health 2,000
National suicide prevention hotline 3
Digital inclusion 250
POLICY AREA 8: Safeguarding jobs, youth, disability, vocational training
INVESTMENTS RRF (m/€)
Support for employers hiring apprenticeships, people under 26 years 2,347
Creation of places in bachelor studies 180
Youth plan: continuation of studies for new baccalaureate holders 76
Personalised courses for young people aged 16-18 not in education or training 74
Strengthen state guarantee of student loans 32
Job creation for young people in sport 40
POLICY AREA 4: Energy & green technologies
INVESTMENTS RRF (m/€)
Develop carbon-free hydrogen 1,925
POLICY AREA 3: Infrastructure & green mobility
INVESTMENTS RRF (m/€)
Developing daily mobility 900
Aid for clean vehicles 985
Energy transformation of the State fleet 155
POLICY AREA 7: Digitalisation of state, territories, companies & culture
INVESTMENTS RRF (m/€)
Developing digital access to higher education in all regions 35
Digital upgrade of education system administration 35
Digital transformation of schools 131
POLICY AREA 2: Ecology & biodiversity
INVESTMENTS RRF (m/€)
Decarbonisation of industry 300
POLICY AREA 1: Energy renovations
INVESTMENTS RRF (m/€)
Energy renovation of public buildings 3,800
Energy renovation and rehabilitation of social housing 500

2022 Country specific recommendations for health equity

Each spring, the European Commission and European Council make Country Specific Recommendations to provide tailored advice to individual Member States on how to boost jobs, growth and investment, while maintaining sound public finances.

French Country Specific Recommendations 2022 that are most relevant for health equity

3. [...] Address the shortage of skills by raising the level of basic skills, providing additional work-based learning options and improving the learning outcomes of all students, notably by adapting resources and methods to the needs of disadvantaged students and schools and by improving the working conditions and continuous training of teachers.

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

  • Health spending relative to GDP in France was well above the EU average in 2019
  • France continues to focus on increasing access to health services
  • Regional disparities have increased in France over the last decade

SOCIAL POLICY

  • Vulnerable groups continue to face difficulties in their integration into the labour market
  • France has strong inequalities in its education system
  • The French pension system is complex and costly
  • Deep disparities persist between continental France and its outermost regions where basic needs are concerned

CLIMATE

  • France is committed to fighting climate change and making its economy sustainable, but implementation is lagging behind
  • Greenhouse gas emissions are steadily decreasing
  • France is performing relatively well in reducing CO2 emissions from transport

Country Report 2022

The accompanying Country Report analyses each EU Member State’s key socioeconomic challenges with the aim of providing a framework for the coordination of social and economic policies across the European Union.

The French 2022 report contained a number of elements that are directly relevant to health equity.

Project under the RRP

Modernisation of the healthcare sector

The modernisation of the healthcare sector project includes measures to renovate hospitals and healthcare facilities, build new outpatient facilities, and modernise medical infrastructure and equipment. The project will focus on all types of healthcare facilities but will have a special focus on mental health services.

Other projects under the French Recovery and Resilience Plan

Suggestions for the future

  • Prevention investment of 3% of all health expenditures in France (approximately €9b), in the long run.

  • New preventive medical consultations at ages 25, 45 and 65: The objective of these consultations is to reach out to the populations that are furthest from care, the most precarious populations. These prevention appointments will be reimbursed at 100% by the Health Insurance and organised around 20-25, 40-45 and 60-65 years old. Each one will focus on physical activity, diet, addictions and, for the elderly, the prevention of loss of autonomy.

  • Free of charge screening for sexually transmitted infections for people under 26, free birth control pills for women under 26, and campaigns against tobacco and alcohol, promotion of physical activity, etc.

This report was produced by EuroHealthNet, the European partnership of organisations, institutes, and authorities working on public health, disease prevention, promoting health and wellbeing, and reducing inequalities. We aim to tackle health inequalities within and between European States through action on the social determinants of health. Read more about us on our website.

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