Overseas News: France to Cut Healthcare Spending by 1.7 Billion Euros in 2025

This column picks up on overseas medical news.
We would like to introduce the French government's announcement of a policy to cut healthcare spending by 1.7 billion euros (approximately 300 billion yen) for the 2025 fiscal year.

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To explain this French policy in the context of Japan:

This includes policies to curb the growth of medical expenses, reviews of patient co-payment ratios, or reductions in medical subsidies for specific diseases. In France, a plan was announced to cut 1.7 billion euros in healthcare spending for 2025 to address rising costs.
This approach is similar to Japan's medical cost containment measures, the promotion of specific health checkups and guidance, and the encouragement of generic drug use.

France's Healthcare Cost Reduction Measures

Curbing the National Healthcare Expenditure Target (ONDAM)
The government has set a National Healthcare Expenditure Target (ONDAM) and is implementing policies to suppress the growth of medical costs. This is equivalent to Japan's medical fee revisions and medical cost optimization plans.

Increasing Patient Co-payments
By increasing the ratio of co-payments (out-of-pocket expenses), the government is considering policies to increase the financial burden on patients to discourage unnecessary visits to medical institutions. While Japan has systems like the High-Cost Medical Expense Benefit and the Certificate of Maximum Amount Application to reduce high medical burdens, France is attempting to curb costs by reviewing co-payment ratios.

Strengthening the Primary Care Physician System
The primary care physician (GP) system is operated more strictly than in Japan, and a referral letter is required to see a specialist. By strengthening this system, they aim to curb visits to specialists and prevent the rise in medical costs.

Improving Efficiency of Medical Services
They are attempting to reduce medical costs by promoting the consolidation of medical institutions and improving the efficiency of medical services. In Japan, this corresponds to the Regional Medical Care Vision and work-style reforms for doctors.

Comparison with Japan's Healthcare Cost Reduction Measures
Like France, Japan's cost reduction measures include policies to curb the growth of medical expenses, reviews of co-payment ratios, and reductions in subsidies for specific diseases. However, because the medical insurance systems and co-payment structures differ between France and Japan, the specific reduction measures also differ.

Now, let's take a look at Japan's healthcare cost reduction measures!

Medical Fee Revisions
By revising medical fees, the government adjusts payments to medical institutions to curb the growth of medical expenses.

Specific Health Checkups and Specific Health Guidance
By promoting specific health checkups and guidance, the government aims to prevent the onset of lifestyle-related diseases and stop the increase in medical costs.

Promoting the Use of Generic Drugs
By promoting the use of generic drugs, the government aims to lower drug prices and reduce medical expenses.

Reviewing the High-Cost Medical Expense Benefit System
The government is developing systems to reduce high medical burdens, such as reviewing the High-Cost Medical Expense Benefit system and promoting the use of the Certificate of Maximum Amount Application.

Regional Medical Care Vision
By formulating a Regional Medical Care Vision and promoting the division of roles and cooperation among medical institutions, the government aims to improve the efficiency of medical services.

Work-Style Reform for Doctors
By advancing work-style reforms for doctors, the government aims to reduce the burden on medical institutions and optimize medical costs.

Summary
While France's healthcare cost reduction measures share some commonalities with Japan's, the specific measures differ due to differences in medical insurance systems and co-payment structures. In France, to curb the growth of medical expenses, they are considering suppressing the National Healthcare Expenditure Target (ONDAM), increasing co-payments, strengthening the primary care physician system, and improving the efficiency of medical services. In Japan, the government is also working to optimize medical costs by advancing medical fee revisions, specific health checkups and guidance, the promotion of generic drugs, reviews of the High-Cost Medical Expense Benefit system, the Regional Medical Care Vision, and work-style reforms for doctors.

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