Saving money without upsetting taxi drivers: the government proposed on Wednesday to study, with representatives of the profession, new calculations for the conditions of remuneration for patient transport, but many professionals remain wary.
Following a meeting with taxi organisations, which have been mobilised for several weeks, Health Minister Yannick Neuder assured that it was necessary to "continue to work together to find solutions that are in the national interest".
He postponed a new meeting in 15 days. By then, the National Health Insurance Fund (CNAM) will have to evaluate the proposals made by the taxis.
After weeks of mobilization to demand a direct meeting with the government, taxi representatives appeared rather satisfied.
"The minister understood that the system proposed by the CNAM services was absolutely not viable for taxi companies," Rachid Boudjema, president of the National Taxi Union, stressed after the meeting.
This includes taking into account the return to the meter (and not the package) for most journeys, and “slow walking” in the event of traffic jams.
"The big step forward is that these proposals will be costed and we'll see if they fit within budgetary targets," said Bilal Bouammar of the Federation of Independent Taxis after the meeting. "We're more in the process of negotiating than imposing measures, as has been the case for a year and a half (with the CNAM)," he noted.
Taxis are, however, ready to mobilise again in the event of further disappointment, because they are "caught by the throat", Mr Boudjema told AFP.
Distrust was indeed hanging over the Ministry of the Economy in Paris, where hundreds of demonstrators from all over France parked their taxis, blocking several streets.
"They're trying to buy time. In July and August, you can blockade Paris, they don't give a damn. We're staying! If we leave, we'll never come back," one protester shouted.
– Savings –
Between now and the next meeting, "there will be sporadic and uncontrolled actions," warned Gérôme Lassalle of the Elite Taxi association.
The Pyrénées-Atlantiques prefecture also banned a demonstration of 500 taxis expected to begin Thursday in Pau, the home city of Prime Minister François Bayrou, on Wednesday evening due to "the risk of public disorder." Taxis from several departments had blocked Pau train station for two weeks in May.
On Wednesday afternoon, in the Paris region, a convoy from Roissy airport slowed traffic on the ring road.
Taxi drivers are protesting against the new health insurance agreement governing the transport of patients by taxi, which is due to come into effect on October 1.
The new system is expected to be based on a 13-euro social security contribution, followed by a mileage charge. But taxi drivers fear, for example, that waiting times while patients are in hospital will no longer be paid.
Some taxi drivers sometimes derive two-thirds of their revenue from transporting patients to hospitals or medical appointments, particularly in rural areas or small towns.
Health insurance aims to save money by developing platforms that centralize requests, to streamline taxi journeys, enable shared transportation, and avoid empty returns or long waiting periods for vehicles.
– Blocking –
Between 2019 and 2024, medical transport spending exploded to reach 6.74 billion euros annually, including 3.07 billion for licensed taxis, an increase of 45%.
During the second half of May, the profession had already blocked train stations and airports and occupied certain roads in several French cities, notably on Boulevard Raspail in Paris, a stone's throw from the government district.
In addition to their grievances against the agreement with the health insurance system, taxis are also denouncing VTC drivers, who are accused of unfair competition and of practising haulage – driving around empty-handed in search of customers – something they are prohibited from doing.
The government has stated that it will step up enforcement to crack down on fraudsters. This swiftness angered the VTC drivers, who were also interviewed on June 3 at the Ministry of Transport. They, too, called for a week of mobilization starting Tuesday.
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