THE BEST HOSPITALS AN INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED HEALTHCARE SYSTEM GETTING MEDICAL TREATMENT IN FRANCE SEVEN MEDICAL SPECIALITIES AND LISTS OF THE HOSPITALS WHERE YOU CAN RECEIVE TREATMENT › GETTING MEDICAL TREATMENT IN FRANCE / EDITORIAL EDITORIAL France is internationally renowned for its healthcare system and a long tradition of hospitality. For the first time, the healthcare possibilities in France are being presented in an informational brochure for patients around the world. France is a wellspring of medical innovation. Our teams of doctors and researchers, trained according to the most rigorous standards, are behind some of the world’s most important discoveries in a variety of therapeutic fields. To make its expertise available to all, France has decided to consolidate its care infrastructure for individuals seeking medical treatment in our country. Making the choice to be away from one’s family to obtain the best treatment is never easy. Moreover, such a decision is often made when a patient is in pain or distress and with great urgency. It is essential that every stage of this decision-making process be made as simple as possible, whether it be in terms of finding the most suitable facility, preparing administrative requirements or planning the trip for the patient and family members. France now has a system in place to assist patients during this difficult time and facilitate their care from start to finish so they can focus on healing. Access to French healthcare is now much easier, with a facilitated health visa process, improved hosting conditions for patients and their families, tailored services, and specially trained staff available if needed. Patients who do not have access to the care they need in their home countries can now receive medical treatment and care that meets their quality, cost and hospitality expectations. And perhaps the bounty of treasures that can be found all around the country can further heal patients who have chosen to come to France for their treatment. › GETTING MEDICAL TREATMENT IN FRANCE / SUMMARY SUmmary Healthcare in France, international excellence 2 Practical information 6 Discover France, a unique experience 8 Cardiology 10 Gynaecology – obstetrics 12 Neurology 14 Oncology 16 Orthopaedic services 18 Paediatrics 20 Rehabilitation services 22 1 › GETTING MEDICAL TREATMENT IN FRANCE / OVERVIEW HEALTHCARE IN FRANCE INTERNATIONAL EXCELLENCE RENOWNED HEALTHCARE Prizes, with awards received as recently as 2008 (Professors With an internationally recognized Françoise Barré-Sinoussi and healthcare system, groundbreaking Luc Montagnier: discovery of the research facilities and high-quality retrovirus responsible for causing infrastructures, France welcomes AIDS) and 2011 (Professor Jules many patients from around the Hoffmann: research on innate globe. immunity). French research is Its medical teams are ranked especially active in the fight against among the best in the world. cancer and the treatment of rare French excellence extends to diseases. numerous surgical and medical specialities, notably for the France strives to ensure effective treatment of cancers, heart transfer of technological and diseases, orthopaedic surgery and scientific advances to therapeutic reconstructive surgery (SoMedical fields, and several training centres 2013 ranking). for new techniques have been created, including IRCAD, the European School of Surgery A GUARANTEE OF FASTER (EEC) and Cancer Campus. These TREATMENT MEETING THE institutions were founded on the HIGHEST STANDARDS IN principles of translational medicine ALL FIELDS to speed patients access to the latest discovers and improve The French healthcare system the overall healthcare system often receives top honours in performance. international rankings: it is first on the World Health Organization’s ranking of the world’s health HEALTH ESTABLISHMENTS systems. This recognized OPEN TO THE WORLD performance ensures that patients receive treatment quickly Our hospitals employ doctors, with average wait times that researchers and students from earned France third place on the around the world. They have come Commonwealth Fund 2014 ranking. to learn about French medical It also means uninsured patients expertise through the best research who are not French residents and training programmes and help are able to benefit from very spread that knowledge across the competitive prices. globe. Numerous techniques and surgical A CULTURE OF specialities, such as heart surgery, INNOVATION FOR CUTTING- neurosurgery and robotic surgery, EDGE HEALTHCARE were developed in France and many – including the fields of Research by French medical gynaecology and oncology – owe research teams has won 13 Nobel much to French teams. 2 13 Nobel Prizes for medicine awarded « to French teams › GETTING MEDICAL TREATMENT IN FRANCE / OVERVIEW CERTIFIED QUALITY WITH THE HIGHEST OF STANDARDS France has a quality control system, overseen by its National Health Authority (HAS), which is among the best in the world. French healthcare facilities are required to undergo certification every four years to ensure their quality level meets basic criteria regarding infection risk, patient identification, pain management, medication management and policies to improve care quality and safety. These are some of the most stringent certification standards in the world. A high-quality and safe certification system that is among the most stringent « in the world A HEALTHCARE SYSTEM THAT CONSIDERS ETHICS AND CONDUCT AS CORE VALUES Practising medicine in France is governed by a medical conduct code that covers such principles as the respect of human dignity and professional confidentiality, patients’ right to information and the obligation to obtain consent for all interventions. The equally high-quality therapeutic offer, available to all without distinction and subject to strict oversight, has earned French healthcare facilities one of the best reputations for probity in the world. Article 7 of the Code of Conduct stipulates that “doctors must listen, examine, advise or offer care of the same standard to all patients regardless of their origin, nationality, religion or feelings they may have towards them.” 4 › GETTING MEDICAL TREATMENT IN FRANCE / OVERVIEW Clinique Claude Bernard, Ermont 5 › GETTING MEDICAL TREATMENT IN FRANCE / PRACTICAL INFORMATION PRACTICAL ACCESS With its two international airports, Paris INFORMATION is a main entry point to France for many foreign visitors. It is well connected to all of the country’s major cities by air LILLE and train. ▸ 38 international airports in France, two of which are in Paris; high-speed trains (TGV) available from Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle Airport to all major PARIS STRASBOURG cities in France. ▸ All means of transport are available for RENNES getting around Paris and the surrounding metropolitan area (Île-de-France): train, ANGERS NANTES RER, metro, tramway, bus and taxi. Connection is also available to all major French cities via high-speed train (TGV), CLERMONT- domestic flights and main motorways. FERRAND LYON GRENOBLE BORDEAUX ACCOMMODATION France has a considerable offer of hotels NICE of all categories in all of its cities and BIARRITZ TOULOUSE MONTPELLIER near to hospital facilities. It is also possible to find furnished apartments for MARSEILLE longer stays. All cities make hotel and booking information available through their tourist offices. In Paris, there are 100 km more than forty booking centres. + INFO WWW.FRANCE.FR 6 › GETTING MEDICAL TREATMENT IN FRANCE / PRACTICAL INFORMATION Left to right : CHU d’Amiens - Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Centre de lutte contre le cancer de Nice - Institut de Cancérologie de l’Ouest, Nantes SHORT STAY VISA (SCHENGEN VISA) FOR MEDICAL REASONS To receive medical treatment What documents must be submitted ★ If applicable, proof of registration in France, it may be necessary with the request? on the national organ and cornea (depending on your nationality) to You will need to submit all basic transplant list provided by the obtain a short stay visa for medical documentation required for any medical/surgical team that will be reasons. short stay visa as well as specific performing the transplant. documentation pertaining to your Who must obtain a visa? medical situation, which will be handled Is it mandatory to appear in person at A visa is not required for European with absolute confidentiality. the consulate to make the request? Union citizens. The European Union has Yes, unless the traveller’s health also waived the visa requirement for The following basic documentation is prevents doing so. citizens of certain countries (such as required for all short stay visas: the United States and the United Arab ★ Proof of accommodation in France What procedure should be followed Emirates) if the length of stay(s) does ★ Proof of travel and repatriation for those accompanying the patient not exceed 90 days in a 180-day period. insurance on the trip? Citizens with the following nationalities ★ Proof of sufficient personal finances In addition to the documentation required (the list is not exhaustive) are required to cover daily expenses while in for a Schengen Visa, specific documentation to apply for a short stay visa: Algeria, France (payslips, bank statements, may be requested, including: Cameroon, China, Egypt, Gabon, Ivory etc.) ★ Proof of a family relationship with Coast, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Niger, ★ If applicable, documentation for the patient, or if no family ties exist, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal and