Medical shortages in rural areas: how to attract doctors?

How do you attract and retain a doctor?

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Since 2010, the number of qualified GPs in France has been falling, contributing to the increase in medical deserts, which are already widespread throughout the country. These areas, where GPs are under-represented or over-booked, represent a major danger for the French, as they implicitly encourage patients to let their illness drag on, or to opt for self-medication.
For these reasons, many communes and local authorities are looking to attract a doctor to their area. But how do you convince them to come and, above all, to stay?

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Bringing a doctor to a rural community

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Rural areas are the hardest hit by medical medical desertsIt's within these areas that work needs to be done to resolve this situation as quickly as possible. To this end, some communes are opting to set up modern "maisons de santé" (health centers), bringing together a number of specialists such as general practitioners, dermatologists, nurses and osteopaths. The advantage: savings on rent, which is much lower than for an individual practice. What's more, this grouping of healthcare professionals enables them to work together and refer their patients to colleagues in the building, thus ensuring a regular clientele.

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Some communities also choose to recruit their own GPs through specialist recruitment agencies. These offers are aimed at professionals who don't want to take the risk of opening a practice in a rural area, for fear of running up large debts due to insufficient clientele. In this case, it's the town council that pays the doctor a salary, in the same way as any other town employee. Local authorities play an essential role in recruiting doctors, as it is up to them to approach specialized recruitment agencies to find a competent professional quickly. Often, they wish to avoid additional costs and make do with classified ads or local billposting, but this can delay the arrival of a doctor by several months or even years.

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How can we make doctors want to stay?

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Generally speaking, GPs who take the plunge and set up practice in rural areas don't want to leave afterwards, as they have a large number of patients from the surrounding communities, which means they benefit from a comfortable financial situation. The living environment is also often more pleasant and less stressful than in a big city. However, some doctors do work in sparsely populated areas and don't completely fill their appointment books. In such cases, it is important that the local town hall provides the technical means to offer an excellent Internet connection, enabling the doctor to carry out remote consultations when there are available slots, as this is a service that is increasingly in demand, particularly since the start of the pandemic.

Finally, some local authorities offer doctors financial assistance or grants to help them set up and work in optimal conditions. Although these grants represent a budget for the commune, they are essential to ensure that local residents have rapid access to high-quality care. These grants can simply be the subject of a budget allocated to health, to be discussed at town hall meetings. Similarly, some communes can obtain assistance from their département or region to offer grants to doctors wishing to set up in a commune located in a medical desert.

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