French doctors' strike bites into health services

A strike by France's medical doctors started to bite into medical services Tuesday, with the situation expected to worsen as doctors expand industrial action until December 31.
A dispute with the government over a new health bill is at the origin of the strike, particularly a proposal for a direct billing system whereby patients would not pay for medical appointments which would be reimbursed later to medical professionals from Social Security accounts.
The government says the aim is to modernise and improve the payment system and also allow poorer people access to treatment without having to front cash.
Under the current system, patients pay first and are later reimbursed by Social Security and complimentary Voluntary Health Insurance schemes.
Striking doctors complain that the Social Security system is slow and their payments could be delayed, and they want to maintain the "patient pays" system.
Unions representing doctors here said that over 50 percent of doctors refused to work Tuesday, a figure that could rise in the coming week of action by the professionals.
More medical professionals are expected to join the strike on Wednesday, as a major union for specialists called for strike action.