The day after a day of mobilization during which more than 1,500 taxis converged in Lyon, as far as Place Bellecour, the taxi unions decided to renew the movement. New blockages are expected this Tuesday.
Hundreds of “angry” taxi drivers disrupted traffic around Lyon on Monday, where the movement continued on Tuesday, and in the South, to protest against an agreement currently being negotiated with Health Insurance including per-tax pricing. reduction in the transport of patients.
Three quarters of taxis affected by the new agreement
In 2023, more than 40,000 taxis were approved to transport sick people suffering from pathologies ranging from cancer to psychiatric illnesses, according to Health Insurance, or almost three quarters of taxis in France.
Also read : Lyon: on strike, taxis have arrived on Place Bellecour
In order to make 300 million euros in savings on this medical transport, the Barnier government, threatened with censorship, wishes to force taxis and medical transporters to negotiate measures with Health Insurance, under penalty of imposed price reductions.
In addition, a decree implementing the Social Security budget for 2024 provides that a patient can no longer refuse, with some exceptions, shared medical transport, under penalty of having to advance the costs and being reimbursed only on the basis shared transportation. Patients must also be treated in less than 45 minutes, and by geographic area with a kilometer detour limit per patient.
A biouvac canceled on Place Bellecour
More than 1,500 taxis participated throughout the day in blockages or slowdowns at several access points in the Lyon metropolitan area. At the end of the day, in the center of Lyon, nearly 200 drivers converged at the wheel on Place Bellecour, to the sound of foghorns, firecrackers and horns.
A bivouac for the drivers, initially announced in this square, ultimately did not take place and the taxis each left gradually in the early evening, under intermittent rain.
