Nearly 3,500 doctors plan to 'not comply' if State Medical Aid is abolished

Nearly 3,500 Doctors Pledge to “Disobey” in the Event of Removal of State Medical Aid

In France, nearly 3,500 doctors declared their intention to “disobey” if (AME) is deleted. United in a collective, they signed an appeal to preserve the AME, a system of access to care for people in precarious situations on French territory.

A response to a possible suppression of the AME

This collective commitment comes in response to political proposals aimed at eliminating or reducingstate medical aid. Established to provide health care to people in an irregular situation on French territory, the AME is perceived by some as an incentive to illegal immigration. The signatories of the text, from different medical backgrounds - general practitioners, specialists, hospitalists, self-employed, employees or retirees - affirm the need to maintain this system so as not to exclude the most deprived from access to care.

A commitment to “disobey” to defend access to care

More than a simple plea, the appeal of 3,500 doctors revolves around the principle of disobedience in order to defend universal access to care. They undertake to break any law which denies this fundamental right for all, without distinction of administrative status. “We, doctors, declare that we will continue to treat all people requiring medical care, with or without papers, with or without health insurance, with or without AME” declares the collective.

The AME, an essential system for vulnerable populations

State medical aid benefits illegal foreigners who cannot benefit from basic universal health coverage. This is an essential device to prevent the insecurity of these people and avoid serious and costly health situations. According to the signatories, the abolition of the AME would accentuate already existing social inequalities in health. They oppose any measure that would make access to care even more difficult for the most vulnerable people. Their fight is therefore to preserve united medicine, guaranteeing access to care for all, regardless of each person's administrative, social or economic status.