Covid-19 tests are still reimbursed in France - but not for long
Reimbursement for most will stop after the epidemic season, but some have criticised the move
Most people will have to pay full price for the tests after this winter's epidemic season
Ilze kalve/Shutterstock
France is to stop reimbursing the cost of lateral flow Covid-19 tests after the current winter epidemic season is over, health authorities have announced.
The Direction générale de la santé (DGS) confirmed the change on January 17, in a message to the AFP.
“Pharmacists will be able to continue to carry out Covid Trod (tests rapides d’orientation diagnostique, rapid diagnostic tests) as well as providing self-tests at patient requests”, it said, although “the latter will no longer be reimbursed by the Assurance-maladie”.
Currently, tests are reimbursed at €16.50 from the total cost of €19.50.
Those who have a medical prescription for a test may be eligible for reimbursement, however, if “the use of a Covid-19 RT-PCR test is recommended” as they have a higher risk of developing a more severe form of the disease.
Without reimbursement patients will have to pay the full cost of the test.
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Health industry criticism
Some professionals in the health industry have criticised the decision, saying that tests should be available to all vulnerable people, and that Covid tests have an important role to play when it comes to screening for other conditions such as flu and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus, a respiratory virus that infects the nose, throat, and lungs).
Philippe Besset, president of the Fédération des syndicats pharmaceutiques de France (FSPF), told AFP: “It would be useful during winter epidemics of respiratory syndromes, to maintain reimbursement for tests that combine the detection of influenza, Covid and the bronchiolitis virus for the fragile population, i.e. the over-65s and patients and people on long-term care.”
Pharmacist union the UPSO also said it felt “deep concern” at the move, in a press release. It called the decision “incomprehensible…in the middle of an epidemic period”, and said it sent the wrong message.
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“Currently, the cost of taking samples and using Covid tests makes it possible to carry out combined screening for influenza and RSV at a lower cost,” it said, and helps to “detect the onset of epidemics in each region at an early stage, and anticipate the organisation of care in collaboration with doctors and hospitals”.
France has been experiencing a severe flu epidemic in recent weeks, with admissions to hospital increasing in early January (alongside a seasonal outbreak of bronchiolitis in infants). Covid levels have remained relatively stable this winter, so far.
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The decision comes after French health authority la Haute autorité de santé (HAS) said in June 2023 that combined Covid/flu and Covid/flu/RSV TRODs did not represent “at the individual level, a proven medical benefit in the diagnosis of acute respiratory infections in towns and cities’”.
However, the HAS did say that it could still justify public funding for tests “because of the potential benefits for the healthcare system, carers and parents/patients during the winter period”.
