"
Test, alert, protect
". In view of the explosion of contaminations in France (332,252 cases this Wednesday, a record) due to the Omicron variant, the government's triptych is called into question. Knowing that these positive cases represent a growing but minority part of the number of tests: between December 20 and 26, 6,847,000 PCR or antigen tests were validated by a health professional according to the Department of Research, Studies, evaluation and statistics (Drees); this is 3.5 times more than in the first week of July and 1.2 times more than in mid-August. According to the DREES still, between December 27 and January 2, nearly 8.3 million samples were validated by a health professional. A frantic hunt that always costs more for Social Security, althoughit no longer reimburses 100% of the direct debits. In 2021, the screening campaign will have cost 6.1 billion euros. If tracing continues to gain momentum, to weigh down public finances, who are the winners in this juicy business, which sometimes flirts with the limits?
To discover
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Screening
“
The antigen test is billed approximately 25 euros at the Social Security [precisely 25.01 euros on weekdays and 30.01 euros on Sundays according to Ameli.fr].
To find out how much you earn, you have to deduct 6 euros for the purchase of the test and 1 euro for consumables (gowns, gloves, masks).
Of course, we must subtract the workforce: count 15 euros for three tests in a quarter of an hour plus charges
, "said Pierre-Olivier Variot, president of the Union of trade unions of dispensing pharmacists.
“
I buy them for 3 or 4 euros each.
Most often from Biosynex and Biogaran laboratories, the latter being more expensive.
But we prioritize quality
», Explains for his part a pharmacist from the 9th arrondissement in Paris.
It is difficult to know more about the turnover achieved ... A laboratory technician in the same district can only tell us that his has increased by 10% since the crisis: "
We outsource all the stages so difficult to quantify the cost of comes back from a test
.
Of course those who produce them see their income explode.
In any case, we had to hire with all these people
”.
True !
The queue stretches this Wednesday morning for several tens of meters on either side of the street.
As for the PCR test done in the laboratory, it is billed at 43.89 euros.
Read also Covid-19: will the Omicron wave be the last?
For their part, physiotherapists charge 24.93 euros for the antigen test in the office.
“
We earn 18.92 euros per test since the cost of the test of 6 euros is covered.
Every day we have the right to collect 20 antigenic tests free of charge in pharmacies.
According to the return to the field of physiotherapists, some balk a little ...
"rebounds the president of the national union of physiotherapists Sébastien Guérard.
It indicates that most often patients are screened during a consultation.
" Fairground
"
barnums
If there is one element on which health professionals agree, it is the unfair competition induced by certain “
fairground
” barnums according to Sébastien Guérard. “
There are the 'good' barnums: those in front of the pharmacies who are supervised by pharmacists. And the 'bad' ones. Sometimes, health professionals are several tens of kilometers from these tents
, ”says Pierre-Olivier Variot. Because the legislation is strict on the subject. Tents must be declared to the competent services and supervised by a nearby health professional. "
I was approached by a company which asked me to supervise the tests for a nightclub ...
", abounds the pharmacist of the 9th arrondissement. "
Of course I
said no ”.
Read alsoRush on antigenic tests: a hefty bill for Social Security, a boon for professionals
Companies are also offering to set up screening tents, free of charge, near pharmacies, in businesses, communities and schools. A priori no problem insofar as these screenings are carried out by authorized people (doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, midwives, dentists, pharmacists): "
I saw an architecture student take a sample the other day, it is an aberration
, “annoys the president of the Union of trade unions of dispensary pharmacists. In addition to the shortfall for pharmacies and other specialists, some fear that the tests performed will be less reliable. "
The reagents react less outside in the cold than inside,
" explains a pharmacist .
.
We must therefore avoid leaving them too long in a tent outside
”
“
Wild companies are taking over this lucrative market.
They come to pollute it by settling near nursing offices, pharmacies ... Behind, there are undoubtedly laboratories but it is difficult to trace the sectors
, ”regrets Sébastien Guérard.
Those who do not respect the rules are liable to a fine of 135 euros, or even "
closure and complaints to order
", recalls Pierre-Olivier Variot.
Without doubt a drop of water to see the queues ...
Others go even further and charge sky-high prices for tests.
The Parisian
revealed at the beginning of the week that two men had been placed in police custody for fraud after having charged 100 euros each on the Champs-Élysées for tests.
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