The CHUG operating account, in surplus, is a sham. It is thanks to state funds that Guadeloupe's main health establishment is absorbing its deficit, reconnecting with its suppliers and operating without too much hassle. The move to Dothémare is also full of promise.
Last Friday (November 29, 2024), 31 presidents of supervisory boards of French university hospitals sent a letter to Prime Minister Michel Barnier, in order to alert him to the worrying financial situation of their health establishments.
The president of the Departmental Council of Guadeloupe Guy Losbar is one of the signatories of this missive, in his capacity as president of the supervisory board of the Guadeloupe University Hospital Center (CHUG). He sees in this communication “the undeniable mark of the absolute urgency of preserving the health of Guadeloupeans and, above all, of preserving the public health service“.
The opportunity for us to take a look at the financial situation of the local establishment.
Officially, the CHUG is doing wonderfully. The hospital which is located between Pointe-à-Pitre and Les Abymes ended the 2023 financial year with a surplus operating account of more than one million euros.
But, in reality, this good health is only apparent. The CHUG has been suffering from a chronic illness for almost twenty years. This one is called “deficit“.
The patient, since we must call him that, only survives thanks to a generous infusion administered by the State; 80 million euros granted annually for 2 years.
And the treatment is starting to bear fruit.
The CHU has already reduced its debt to suppliers by half. From 120 million euros, we went to 60 million euros.
Payment terms have also been shortened. We thus went from 250 to 100 days. So, of course, there is still room, when we know that the rule in this area is 30 days.
However, according to the general manager, relations with suppliers would now be smoother and stock shortages less frequent.
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In reality, Eric Guyader is betting everything on a new treatment called “change of air“. The transfer of the patient to Dothémare (Les Abymes), from January 2025, should allow the latter to develop new activities, with 580 beds, compared to 480 currently.
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Enough to generate new revenue and, therefore, hope one day for a complete remission, with a real accounting balance sheet, this time.
