Third National Plan for Rare Diseases for France
At a public session in the National Assembly on June 15, the minister of social affairs and health, Marisol Touraine, has announced that a third national plan for rare diseases would soon be launched, continuing from the previous two plans.
Three million people are affected by rare diseases in France. The first national plan for rare diseases was launched for the period 2005-2008. It was followed by a second plan for 2011-2016. Last February, Plateforme maladies rares had called for a third National Plan for Rare Diseases with an interministerial steering and co-constructed by several stakeholders. LEEM also called for the release of a third plan.
Marisol Touraine has responded to these calls emphasising the government's willingness to "continue in this direction to encourage the participation of French teams in tenders to promote the structuring of the medical care and medical and social." The minister also recalled that "the results of previous plans are encouraging and interesting especially with regard to the care of patients since France is proud to have a unique system, temporary use authorization (ATU) which allows us to handle whatever the cost of disease treatment when necessary." Plateforme maladies rares immediately responded with a press release pointing out the importance of the involvement of all stakeholders in the development of the third plan as well as its interdepartmental governance and with specific means to build a policy that certainly continue current actions, but is also innovative and plural in its vision.
Listen to Députée Dominique Orliac and Minister Marisol Touraine speak on this topic (from 27.30 to 31.40 minutes – in French)
Read the press release of the Platform rare diseases (in French)
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