Health specialists denounce an “incomprehensible decision”. Since March 1, thrombus aspiration catheters, used in hospitals for the management of strokes, are no longer covered by social security.
“Mechanical thrombectomy has already demonstrated, in France and around the world, its effectiveness in reducing mortality and disability in stroke victims,” replicates the Rothschild Foundation Hospital in a press release.
“Significant Progress”
In use since 2015 in France, the thrombus aspiration catheter is inserted into the groin – which goes up to the brain – when the stroke is due to a cerebral artery obstructed by a large clot. It then helps to dislodge this clot. To be effective, the procedure must be done within six hours of the first symptoms.
“These therapeutic advances have allowed significant advances”, abounds the French Society of Neuroradiology and the French Society of Neurovascular in a letter addressed to the Minister of Health.
Deprived of State reimbursement, thrombus aspiration catheters are now the sole responsibility of hospitals.
An obstacle to development
In his press release, Julien Gottsmann, general director of the Rothschild Foundation Hospital, estimates that this decision represents “a loss of 450,000 euros” for his establishment. In fact, the average price of a single-use catheter is around 1,500 euros.
“Each thrombectomy performed in interventional neuroradiology will now cost hospitals money,” he laments.
What professionals fear is the limitation of the use of this device “which has become the reference indication in treatment” and also the brake on its implementation in new territories. In fact, at the moment, there are only 38 mechanical thrombectomy centers in France.
An “economic sanction”
“Once again, the public hospital and its actors will have to bear the financial burden of innovative techniques that bring significant improvements in the service provided to our compatriots,” denounced the French Society of Neuroradiology and the French Society of Neurovascular.
For the Rothschild Foundation hospital, this “financial sanction (…) is in total opposition to the commitment made by the Minister of Health to ‘turn our back on accounting logic’ in regulating our health system.”
They point out in particular the inconsistency of the decision against, for example, the opinion of the HAS that since 2018 recommends extending the use of these catheters in the territory, reports France Info.
In France, one person has a stroke every four minutes. It is the leading cause of acquired disability in adults and mortality in women.
Contacted, the Ministry of Health did not respond to our requests.
Source: BFM TV
