Towards ARSs that are more in touch with the grassroots
A Senate report proposes a far-reaching reform of the Regional Health Agencies (ARS), involving a strengthening of their departmental level and greater flexibility to respond to local circumstances. This proposal was outlined by Philippe Luccioni-Michaux, Director-General of the Regional Health Agency for Guadeloupe, Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy, during his visit to the territory on 26 June.
Announced by the Prime Minister at the Assises des Départements de France last autumn, the ‘far-reaching overhaul’ of the ARSs did not meet with unanimous approval. However, the government intends to press ahead with this plan. A report presented on 26 May to the Senate’s Delegation for Local Authorities sets out several proposals aimed at bringing the ARS closer to the regions.
Indeed, often seen as too removed from the front line and too complex, the COVID crisis had highlighted the difficulties in coordination between government departments, local authorities and healthcare professionals. Going forward, the aim is to give them greater capacity to act in each region or department.
In Saint-Martin, “there is already an ARS representative, Paul Guibert, but we could see a development whereby the Saint-Martin delegation would be officially designated as a territorial directorate,” said Philippe Luccioni-Michaux. Work will therefore be undertaken to ensure that the territorial director is even better equipped to develop projects by acting as the direct point of contact for local partners. The head office, the ARS in Guadeloupe, plans to provide more technical resources and, to a certain extent, human resources, to strengthen the agency’s presence on the Northern Islands. Put simply, this should provide a local point of contact capable of bringing all relevant stakeholders together to develop public health policies. For the hospital in particular, this will facilitate dialogue between the new director, the elected members of the supervisory board, the president of the Collectivité, and members of parliament.
Whatever the project, the director will be able to provide information, explain the situation and coordinate the various available resources to ensure the project comes to fruition. Financially, this could also develop with a dedicated budget, which the director could commit directly to the territory. As for grant applications to the ARS, nothing has yet been finalised. All of this is pending the publication of the decrees, but could come into effect within a year.
