Monaco has introduced a new 24-hour-on-call medical service that will see doctors making house calls throughout the night, filling a significant gap in the Principality’s healthcare provision.
The service, called Médecin de garde Monaco, begins Tuesday night and will be available every night from 7pm to 7am, seven days a week. Residents can access the service by calling the European emergency number 116 117.
Ministers Christophe Robino and Christophe Mirmand attended the launch on Tuesday 30th September, where the symbolic handover of vehicle keys took place at the Ministry of State headquarters.
The previous on-call service only operated until 10pm, leaving residents without home visit options during the early hours.
“This represents real progress on several fronts,” Minister Robino explained. “It will obviously increase healthcare provision and services to the population, while also relieving pressure on emergency departments from patients who don’t strictly require urgent care.”
How the service works
When residents call 116 117, Monaco’s firefighters will answer, taking basic administrative details before transferring the call directly to the on-call doctor’s mobile. The firefighters may redirect obvious emergencies to appropriate services, through this isn’t formal regulation.
While only one on-call doctor is currently registered for the service, the government says that between 15 and 20 doctors have already signed up to participate.
The vehicle carries medical equipment including an ECG machine and, if needed, electrocardiogram readings can be transmitted directly to the cardiothoracic centre.
The doctors will prioritise visits based on urgency during their telephone conversations with patients.
To ensure the service remains accessible given its emergency nature, doctors have agreed to cap their fees at no more than twice the standard rate for private consultations.
“This night service completes the healthcare picture, giving 24-hour medical access within extremely reasonable timeframes.” Minister Robino added.
Dr Mélanie Macchi, who will work the inaugural shift tonight, came up with the initiative after witnessing the difficulties that patients faced reaching emergency departments at night, particularly elderly residents who required ambulance transport or parents struggling with childcare when one child falls ill.
See more in the video below…
View this post on Instagram
Stay updated with Monaco Life: sign up for our free newsletter, catch our podcast on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok.
Main photo by Monaco Life.