As part of the Act to Improve and Simplify the Health Care System, published in Official Journal on 27 april 2021, the skills of some health professionals were expanded. Midwives, occupational therapists, speech therapists and physical therapists can now make new or renewed prescriptions to patients without having to go back to the general practitioner. In addition, midwives will be able to prescribe work stoppages of more than 15 days. Explanations with Service-Public.fr.
What are the simplification measures?
Midwives can now order work stoppages of more than 15 days, screening for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and treatment of these infections for their patients and partners.
Occupational therapists can now prescribe medical devices and technical aids necessary for the exercise of their profession. They may also renew the medical prescriptions for occupational therapy, unless otherwise specified by the doctor.
Speech-language pathologists can renew their prescriptions for less than a year without having to go through the general practitioner again. However, a prescription will still be required to access speech therapists.
Prescription of drugs is also being expanded for massage therapists. In addition to medical devices (wheelchair, lumbar support belt, crutches, braces...), they now have the possibility to prescribe nicotine substitutes or analgesics, hitherto prescribed only in certain cases, such as back pain.
