The new Salbris health center was officially inaugurated last Tuesday. It already brings together a general practitioner and a gynecologist, and is expected to expand further.
This is a significant step forward for access to care in Sologne. Open since July, the new Salbris regional health center was officially inaugurated last week by François Bonneau, president of the Centre-Val de Loire region. The employment contract of the two doctors who joined the structure, Dr Jean Lefèvre, general practitioner, and Dr Gaston Behar, gynecologist, was also signed on the same occasion, as well as the contract for the provision of premises by the municipality .
A health center will open in Salbris
Employees by the Region
The new center is supported by the Public Interest Group (GIP) Pro Santé Centre-Val de Loire, a system dedicated to the creation and management of health centers, launched to contribute to the fight against medical desertification with employed doctors by the Region.
The project was built in partnership with the community of communes of Sologne des rivières, which takes charge of the medical secretariat of the center, as well as an additional salary, and with the commune of Salbris which retains the management of the premises, which belong to it – this is the old tourist office.
Health, the first concern of the French
“Health is the primary concern of the French,” said François Bonneau during the signing ceremony. After World War II, equal access to care was implemented, and it worked. But we have now reached a critical situation, and we must respond to it in terms of public policies. Health is not a regional responsibility, but for all that, we cannot ignore the fact that today, people are not receiving treatment! So we took on this responsibility. It is in this sense that we have chosen to support the installation of a health center in Salbris. » In total, at the regional level, eighteen structures of this type have already been created. Which represents “more than sixty working doctors”, specified the president of the Region.
Joint work
“Our health system is deteriorating, and we must work together, like here, to find solutions,” highlighted Philippe Gouet, president of the Loir-et-Cher departmental council, present at the inauguration. This while emphasizing the need for a “medical programming law” in order to “get out of the doldrums”.
“There is no health policy in this country,” said Roger Chudeau, MP (RN) for the second constituency of Loir-et-Cher, also present. There are structures, personnel, but no direction! »
“It all started with Covid,” recalled Alexandre Avril, mayor of the city. It was a moment of awareness: faced with the crisis, we had to work with each other. We then created the Salbris health council. Then, at the start of 2021, we were caught off guard by the departure of our three general practitioners, one retiring, the others for health reasons. It then became all the more obvious that it was necessary to continue this joint work and build a health project for the territory. »
A telemedicine vehicle, in addition, made it possible to maintain a healthcare offering, with funding from the department. A long-term “synergy” welcomed by Laurent Vignaud, sub-prefect of Romorantin-Lanthenay.
“Excellent feedback”
“The feedback from Salbrisians is excellent,” rejoices the mayor of Salbris. And trust will deepen over time! What’s more, liberals were attracted to this dynamic. »
The regional center is set to grow. “It will soon be installed in the former Lidl store, Place du Marché,” announced Alexandre Avril. A third office is already planned for an additional doctor. »
Vincent Michel
