pediatricians express their “concern and incomprehension” regarding the lack of reimbursement for Beyfortus

The drug, 80% effective, according to the French Pediatric Society, is now only reimbursed at 30% whereas it was 100% last year.

Beyfortus, a preventive treatment intended to limit the risks of bronchiolitis in babies, is only reimbursed at 30% whereas it was 100% last year, the costs having been covered by the State which had directly purchased doses from laboratories. “We are worried and incomprehensible” after this decision, reacted Tuesday, November 26 on France Inter Christèle Gras-Le Guen, head of the pediatrics department at Nantes University Hospital and spokesperson for the French Pediatric Society.

The lower reimbursement of Beyfortus results from an evaluation by the High Authority for Health (HAS) which qualified its medical benefit as “moderate”. However, according to the pediatrician, the effectiveness of Beyfortus “is demonstrated”. “Last year’s experience was extremely spectacular, with product effectiveness of around 80% in preventing hospitalizations in intensive care, visits to the emergency room, hospitalizations in general, even consultations in liberal”, she argued.

The spokesperson for the French Pediatric Society called for the mobilization of professionals. “This must not be a barrier so that children from the poorest families are left on the sidelines”stressed Christèle Gras-Le Guen. “The rest to pay for families” who do not have complementary health insurance “is of the order of 300 euros”, she said. Especially since “several mutual insurance companies do not reimburse or partially reimburse”she added.