The National Assembly validates direct access to orthoptists – The HuffPost

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POLITICS – Despite the strong reluctance of the oppositions, the National Assembly voted this Friday, October 22 in the evening in favor of expanded activities for the orthoptists, which may in particular prescribe eyeglasses, without consultation with a ophthalmologist.

The measure in Article 40 of the 2022 draft budget of the Safe is at the origin of a strike since Friday and until October 31 of the ophthalmos, mobilized at the call of their main union, the Snof, against what they see as a “degradation of the quality of the care” with direct access to these paramedical professionals.

Conversely, the government defends a measure capable of facilitating access to visual care for the French, given the waiting times for appointments with the ophthalmologist.

Average waiting times were 80 days in 2018, with significant regional differences, according to government figures. But the Snof advances a more recent study showing delays in clear reduction.

“The consultation (with the profession) has taken place since the end of March” and “we are going to be precise in the decree” of application on the age groups concerned -16 to 42 years a priori- or the prescription of corrective glasses or lenses authorized for orthoptists, assured Minister Brigitte Bourguignon to the deputies.

“Two-tier medicine”

But almost all opposition groups had tabled amendments to delete the article, which will prevent or delay screening for eye diseases, they fear.

“The objective is laudable” but this risks leading to “a two-tier medicine”, depending on whether one goes to the orthoptist or the ophthalmologist, argued Thibault Bazin (LR), who instead suggested to “promote the installation” of ophthalmos in poorly endowed areas.

The proposed measure “does not resolve territorial inequalities”, also argued Pierre Dharréville (PCF), while the location of the two professions is often identical.

On the proposal of the general rapporteur Thomas Mesnier (LREM), the deputies adopted a modification, so that orthoptists can only adapt or renew their first prescription if the patient has consulted an ophthalmologist, within a period which will be specified by decree.

Later in the evening, the Assembly voted in favor of experimenting with direct, non-prescription access to physiotherapists and speech therapists working in a coordinated care structure.

These experiments are to be held in six departments and for three years. This aims to facilitate care in areas where there are few doctors, these medical deserts that the government is struggling to address.

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