How do you know if a health center is a problem or not? For the patient, the question arises, faced with the financial and health abuses of some of them. The Renaissance MP, Fadila Khattabi, president of the Social Affairs Committee, behind a law passed last fall which tightens the regulations, specifies the points which must attract the attention of patients.
“The names of the doctors, dental surgeons or ophthalmologists who work in these centers must be displayed on the premises, and on their website. It is mandatory. If not, beware,” she tells us. “The identity of the doctor must be known when making the appointment. And the wearing of a name badge indicating its function is imperative. These provisions have been enshrined in law, to prevent fake, unqualified doctors from misleading patients.
Financially, “requests for full prepayment are illegal,” she said. Dentexia, in particular, obliged its patients to this type of practice. If you are offered it… run away. These health centers also have “the obligation to inform patients in a visible way, if they have been deconventioned by the Health Insurance” adds the deputy.
But not always easy for patients to navigate. These centers have often distinguished themselves by flashy advertisements, with promotional offers displayed wholesale on their windows or on their site, such as “unbeatable prices for care of irreproachable quality”. Beware of these steps. “We have voted in the law the ban on advertising extended to acts or services delivered by health centers,” adds MP Khattabi.
However, it is not always easy to spot them. “Some of these scammers are very smart and know how to use sophisticated communication to attract patients. Above all, you must not hesitate to ask questions, and if the answers are not clear, you have to move on, ”continues Thierry Bour, president of the National Union of Ophthalmologists. You can also report an irregularity or a suspicion of fraud by contacting your primary health insurance fund.