NNine practitioners have so far signed to join the future city center health center. While the project should see the light of day at the end of 2026, six general practitioners and three physiotherapists have given their agreement to invest in the building currently occupied by the Chamber of Trades and Crafts at 11 rue Solférino, near the Halles.
The instigators and partners of this private operation presented, Monday December 9, the future health center in which three million euros will be invested. Behind the project, the company Aedifim Santé which has already delivered the large Ossau health center in Lons. “Everything is sold and nine doctors have come from other departments to set up,” rejoices Gilles Omel, from Aedifim Santé.
The project leaders anticipate similar success in the city center of Pau where the needs are felt: in the royal city, the number of general practitioners has fallen by around 30% in ten years, according to statistics reported by the City from Pau. Thus, 11.6% of Pau residents over the age of 17 do not have a primary care doctor, or around 7,400 people, including more than 610 people over the age of 70.
Works end of 2025
The City of Pau played the role of facilitator to bring back practitioners while the Local Public Land Establishment purchased the building on rue Solférino before reselling it to Aedifim. “We were first interested in the old cinema on rue Simian,” says EPFL general director Anthony Zajdowicz. But the site was not suitable for a medical home. » The wasteland of the former Leader Price, rue de la République, was also considered for a time.
The choice finally fell a few streets further, near the Place d'Espagne and Les Halles. “The building from the 1990s is very healthy, allowing for easy rehabilitation,” explains the architect. An elevator will have to be built in the premises of approximately 1,120 m². For its part, the CMA should move near the Allées media library, allowing work to start in December 2025 for delivery on 4e quarter 2026.
Specialists and paramedical
The site can accommodate up to approximately 25 practitioners, depending on the specialties. Dentist, laboratory and radiology are also under study. Specialized doctors are also sought after such as dermatologists, gynecologists, angiologists, psychiatrists or cardiologists.
The paramedical should also have its place with calls to psychomotor therapists, speech therapists, nurses, podiatrists, orthoptists or psychologists. Labeling as a multi-professional health center was thus initiated.
The grouping of healthcare professionals, and the synergies created between practitioners, is an asset for recruitment, particularly young graduates, explain the stakeholders in the file. The signatory general practitioners also praise the future center: “I was attracted by the project which is fundamental for medical life in the city center,” says Doctor Jean-François Deyris. For many, we have been established for more than twenty years and our concern is how to pass on what we have built. » 42% of Pau doctors are in fact over 60 years old.
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