Two years after the opening of its first health center in Sainte-Croix-Volvestre, “Ma santé, Ma Région” is strengthening its healthcare offering in Ariège by recruiting a general practitioner and a midwife in Les Cabannes. This health center opened its doors today, Monday, November 4 in the village of Cabannes (09). Excellent news for the territory which was in difficulty. This new center welcomes a doctor, a midwife and a medical secretary, all three employed by the “Ma santé, Ma Région” group: “The health center will provide consultations by appointment, unscheduled care as well as only home visits,” assures the Occitanie Region.
“The Community of Communes of Haute-Ariège will always provide support to health professionals”
Located in the heart of the Pyrenees mountains, the Community of Communes of Haute-Ariège faces problems of access to care for its inhabitants. To remedy this, the region has decided to join the “My health, My Region” group, launched in 2021 by the Occitanie Region to promote the employment of general practitioners in areas under-resourced in health services.
« The Community of Communes of Haute-Ariège is committed to the Region to preserve the healthcare offer on its territory. I congratulate and thank the Occitanie Region and the joint work with the municipality of Les Cabannes. The Community of Communes of Haute-Ariège will always provide support to health professionals wishing to settle in its territory », Confided Alain Naudy, President of the community of communes of Haute Ariège.
71 healthcare professionals hired since 2021 via Ma santé ma Région
Created in 2021, the “My health, My Region” system is an initiative launched by the Occitanie Region to fight against medical deserts and improve access to care in rural and remote areas. This system aims in particular to employ health professionals and general practitioners, to guarantee a continuous and local care offer in areas where the lack of practitioners complicates access to medical services. As of October 1, 2024, that is to say 2 years and 3 months after its creation, the Public Group “My health, My Region” signs the opening of 19 health centers in 10 departments, and the hiring of 71 health professionals , including 66 general practitioners and 5 midwives. In total, 84 health professionals were hired, including 37 medical secretaries and 1 medical assistant.
« From 2021, the Occitanie Region has driven the creation of health centers in areas under-resourced in healthcare provision, in
partnership with communities such as the Communities of Communes of Couserans-Pyrénées and Haute-Ariège, whom I thank for their commitment to our side to reduce medical deserts. Thanks to this, Ariège residents now benefit from the presence of two My Region health centers on their territory, allowing them to consult 4 general practitioners and 1 midwife as close as possible to their homes. », Underlined Carole Delga, president of the Occitanie Region.
A shortage of 6,000 general practitioners throughout the country
Medical desertification is a real scourge. Indeed, according to a study conducted by the Territories Bank in 2024, “78% of municipalities hosting 56% of the population are healthy deserts”. In the fall of 2023, UFC Que Choisir notably appealed to the Council of State to have the State sanctioned for inaction. Also, a study initiated by the Association of Rural Mayors of France already confirmed in 2021 that medical desertification affects rural areas more, where a general practitioner covers on average 30 km², compared to 5 km² in urban areas. , thus pointing to a lack of 6,000 general practitioners in the countryside. “ Since September 2020, the AMRF, in collaboration with its partner APIVIA, has entrusted Emmanuel Vigneron, geographer, with a study on access to care and health in rural areas. 5 sections have already been published: Hospital inequalities; Inequalities in life expectancy; The lack of doctors at the sources of desertification; Access distance to emergency services; Transportation.«
Practical information: The Ma Région health center, located on Rue Principale des Cabannes, will be open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The midwife will consult two half-days per week.
