President Nicolas Sarkozy of France takes $2.4 billion stand against Alzheimer’s disease
February 1, 2008
Speaking in Nice on Friday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy unveiled a five-year plan to fight Alzheimer’s disease in France and around the world. 860,000 elderly people in France have Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is unique in that the disease affects not only the sufferers but everyone who knows them.
Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disorder. It is the leading cause of loss of autonomy among elderly people, though a small number of people afflicted are younger.
Sarkozy said the 1.6-billion euro ($ 2.4-billion) plan, slated to take effect on Jan. 1 of next year, calls for the establishment of a new foundation for Alzheimer’s research that will pool scientific efforts of many researchers, scientists and doctors. Recognizing the effects of Alzheimer’s disease on loved ones, the plan also sets up a network of nursing homes to help families care for their Alzheimer’s-afflicted relatives and deal with the stress that Alzheimer’s places on everyone involved.
Sarkozy affirmed that this was a long-term personal commitment on his part, citing his pledge during his recent presidential campaign to do everything he could to eradicate Alzheimer’s disease in France. It is estimated that 1.3 million in France alone are expected to suffer from Alzheimer’s by 2020. Studies warn that the number of French cases could reach 2.1 million by 2040.
Sarkozy said: “France wants to help the fight against Alzheimer’s within 10-15 years, as the disease is among those whose evolution can be staved off. In a few years, patients’ suffering will be nothing like that of today, and perhaps we can eradicate Alzheimer’s altogether.”
The plan will be paid for primarily from a new fee on the users of health services that took effect on January 1. French health care is free for everyone registered with social security in France, but Sarkozy has long argued that research needs additional funding and says patients should start paying token fees to help cover the cost.
Under the plan proposed by Sarkozy in July 2007, patients would pay a non-refundable 0.50 euro ($0.68) per prescription drug, 0.50 euro for paramedical aid and 2 euros for medical transport, such as ambulance rides. “Alzheimer’s disease is a real national drama,” Sarkozy said during a visit last summer to a hospital in Dax, in southwestern France, saying that everyone should chip in to help end the disease, especially since caring for Alzheimer’s patients costs taxpayers an the government in France 10 billion euros per year.
A French association representing families of Alzheimer’s patients cheered the new plan president Arlette Meyrieux saying it could yield significant progress, but tempered her enthusiasm somewhat with an expressed desire to go over the details of the plan and assess its implications for families.
And Sarkozy’s vision for the project extends beyond his own country. The president of France hopes to use the six-month French presidency of the European Union that begins in July 2008 to organize a pan-European conference on Alzheimer’s disease.
Speaking about Alzheimer’s disease last summer, Sarkozy was quoted as saying: “To fight this illness is a challenge. It has nothing to do with left or right-wing politics. All governments over the next 30 years will be confronted by it.”
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