Why you'll soon have to pay out for homeopathy drugs in France
Homeopathy will soon no longer be available on the French state health insurance system after the government decided that there is no proof that it actually works.
Under the current system, anyone who wants to use homeopathic remedies can swipe their carte vitale health card in the pharmacy and the government will reimburse part of the cost of the medication.
But under new rules due to come into effect next year and in 2021, homeopathy will no longer be included on the French state health insurance scheme.
The rules were drawn up over the summer by the government and published this week in the Journal Officiel, which records all new laws and decrees in France.
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French health minister Agnes Buzyn. Photo: AFP
This means that although homeopathic remedies will still be available from practitioners and pharmacies, anyone who wants to use them will have to pay the entire cost themselves.
Although there are some variations within the carte vitale state health insurance system, at present the government generally refunds 30 percent of the cost of homeopathic medicines.
From January 1st, 2020 that will fall to 15 percent, and then down to zero by January 2021.
The government's decision follows a report from the French state health body Haute autorité de santé (HAS) which concluded that homeopathic remedies had not been proven to be effective.
The body responsible for evaluating medicines concluded that homeopathic products had not "scientifically demonstrated sufficient efficacy to justify reimbursement".
French health minister Agnes Buzyn, a prominent haematologist and university professor with no prior experience in politics before joining the government in 2017, has repeatedly made clear the importance of following scientific advice from the HAS.
According to French press reports, she had made clear that her position was at stake on the homeopathy issue, saying that the scientific credibility of the government was on the line.
Homeopathy is very popular in France, all pharmacies sell homeopathic remedies and doctors frequently prescribe homeopathic medicines in addition to conventional treatments.
Almost a million people signed a petition against the proposed changes and a demonstration was held in Paris in June calling on the government not to scrap the reimbursement.
Maxence Rémond, a pharmacist, told French TV channel BFMTV that the price of homeopathic treatments could be set to rise.
He said: "The VAT on it is changing. It will be higher, so the price automatically increases, and because the laboratory and the pharmacy is then free to set its price, the price of the drug doubles or even triples."
Around 1,300 people work in the manufacture of homeopathic medicines in France.
"We have a network of 28 establishments, it's going to be a huge loss of income and a huge job loss. What we want is to maintain this therapy, which is favoured by the French," said Vincent Mounier, a representative of trade union Force Ouvrière at the Boiron homeopathy firm.
Last year, homeopathy represented €126.8 million out of the total of approximately €20 billion for all reimbursed drugs, according to the French state health insurance provider, l'Assurance maladie.
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Under the current system, anyone who wants to use homeopathic remedies can swipe their carte vitale health card in the pharmacy and the government will reimburse part of the cost of the medication.
But under new rules due to come into effect next year and in 2021, homeopathy will no longer be included on the French state health insurance scheme.
The rules were drawn up over the summer by the government and published this week in the Journal Officiel, which records all new laws and decrees in France.
READ ALSO
- Carte vitale: What your French health insurance entitles you to
- Five surprising things available on your French health insurance
- How to get a carte vitale, and why you need one
French health minister Agnes Buzyn. Photo: AFP
This means that although homeopathic remedies will still be available from practitioners and pharmacies, anyone who wants to use them will have to pay the entire cost themselves.
Although there are some variations within the carte vitale state health insurance system, at present the government generally refunds 30 percent of the cost of homeopathic medicines.
From January 1st, 2020 that will fall to 15 percent, and then down to zero by January 2021.
The government's decision follows a report from the French state health body Haute autorité de santé (HAS) which concluded that homeopathic remedies had not been proven to be effective.
The body responsible for evaluating medicines concluded that homeopathic products had not "scientifically demonstrated sufficient efficacy to justify reimbursement".
French health minister Agnes Buzyn, a prominent haematologist and university professor with no prior experience in politics before joining the government in 2017, has repeatedly made clear the importance of following scientific advice from the HAS.
According to French press reports, she had made clear that her position was at stake on the homeopathy issue, saying that the scientific credibility of the government was on the line.
Homeopathy is very popular in France, all pharmacies sell homeopathic remedies and doctors frequently prescribe homeopathic medicines in addition to conventional treatments.
Almost a million people signed a petition against the proposed changes and a demonstration was held in Paris in June calling on the government not to scrap the reimbursement.
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