A new health law (loi Rist) adopted on May 10th 2023 will make it easier for patients to see certain specialists without getting a referral from their ‘médécin traitant’ (General Practitioner). The aim of the legislation is to ensure access to care for patients during non-working hours, during closures, or amid a lack of MTs. The main changes enshrined in the loi Rist will improve patient access to some health care professionals including:
Nurses
- For certain chronic conditions, it will now be possible in some cases to see an ‘infirmier en pratique avancée’ (IPA, advanced practice nurse) without first going through a GP. This will include access to physiotherapists and orthopaedists
- Nurses will be able to deal with the prevention and treatment of small wounds.
Chiropodists
Chiropodists will be able:
- To prescribe orthotic insoles. Currently, these are only available via a GP referral.
- Examine diabetic patients (who typically need regular foot care), and decide themselves which patients are most at risk, and how many preventative sessions are needed.
- Adapt existing medical prescriptions for insoles and other orthopaedic devices that are less than three years old.
Physiotherapists
Patients will have easier access to independent physiotherapists who work via existing healthcare practices. People will not have to see their GP to be prescribed sessions.
Pharmacists
Pharmacists will be able to renew expired prescriptions up to three times, for a month each time for the continued treatment of a chronic illness, before the patient needs to return to the GP.
Pharmacists working in labs will also be able and authorised to:
- Perform smear tests to check for any early cervical cancer risks.
- Carry out certain rapid tests for other conditions, including bacterial angina (bacterial throat infection) and cystitis.