French healthcare faces a quiet scandal as quality of care is overlooked in political debates, according to surgeon Alain Bernard's new book.
Healthcare a major concern in France
At each presidential election in France, health is a central concern for the public but often discussed only in terms of resources such as hospital beds, doctors, and funding. Focus on resources, not outcomes
These discussions typically revolve around how many resources are allocated to healthcare, such as the number of beds and doctors, and the amount of money spent, but they often overlook the outcomes of this spending. Quality of care remains unaddressed
The quality of care itself is rarely a topic in presidential debates, despite its importance. This lack of focus on outcomes has led to what some describe as a "quiet scandal" in the healthcare system. Expert calls for evaluation
Professor Alain Bernard, a thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon and author of The Quiet Scandal. How France Cares Without Measuring Its Results, argues that the French healthcare system needs better evaluation of its results. Proposals for improvement
As the next presidential election approaches, Bernard suggests concrete measures to improve the quality of care and establish more effective ways to measure the success of healthcare initiatives.
