French prepare to outsource imaging
publication date: Dec 7, 2009
The French Ministry of Health is planning a new approach to radiology which is likely to involve extensive outsourcing to the private sector, principally to the private outpatient centres around France.
Healthcare Europa was told the initiative was a function of shortages of radiologists in the public sector. Today of the 7,000 radiologists in France some 4,500 are in private practice. There is a big gap between the pay of the public sector and the private sector where tax authorities say that pay averages €200,000.
Jean-Philippe Masson, director general of the Federation Nationale de Medecins Radiologues which represents 80% of private radiologists is in deep talks with the government as to how it can best outsource imaging centres to the private sector “without falling back on large private equity investors”.
He says that the government is keen to move in this direction – “the shortage of radiologists in the public sector is extreme and the only way they will be able to maintain some of the smaller regional hospitals is by outsourcing imaging to private sector operators.”
Christian Le Roux, head of Groupe du Mail, the largest player in the Grenoble region and one of the top 10 private radiology centres in the country, with sales of €24m and 45 radiologists says: “Is the French market going to change. Yes, we shall see a lot of consolidation and this will be supported by an expansion of teleradiology.”
