1 medical intern commits suicide every week in France, doctors' groups say

By Feiza Ben Mohamed and Umit Donmez

PARIS (AA) - One medical intern commits suicide every week in France, doctors' groups said Thursday.

Doctors gathered in Paris to demand better working conditions.

The country has been suffering from a "triple epidemic" of the coronavirus, flu, and bronchiolitis. The number of patients has increased in emergency departments, causing long waiting times.

General practitioners, considered the second pillar of the French healthcare system, have been on strike since Dec. 26, asking for better working conditions and fee raises.

Thousands marched to the Ministry of Health and observed a minute of silence to commemorate the interns who have committed suicide.

Protesters condemned the lethargy of the health system, criticizing a shortage of healthcare workers and other serious scarcities.

Dr. Jean-Francois Damour told Anadolu Agency that "150 people died in December in emergency units because they did not have the time to receive treatment."

"Nurses' professional service life is five years on average and France currently needs 60,000 nurses, while 180,000 others quit the healthcare sector because they could not take it anymore," said Damour, who is a general practitioner specializing in vascular medicine.

General practitioners are asking to double their fees from €25 ($26.3) to €50 ($52.6).

Health Minister Francois Braun said earlier that he did not agree to price hike.

"But increasing it? Why not. In return, I want French patients to have access to doctors everywhere, nighttime and weekends included. Let the negotiations finalize," the minister told.

*Writing by Nur Asena Erturk in Ankara