"I'm staying home and saying it will pass": Marseille fights against unequal access to healthcare

Combating inequalities in access to healthcare : this is the goal of the city of Marseille, which has been organizing "health villages" in priority neighborhoods since 2024. On Thursday, September 11 and Friday, September 12, the program was set up in La Belle de Mai, one of the poorest areas of the Phocaean city, very close to the Saint-Charles train station.

Under a large white tent, residents can consult doctors, nurses and caregivers free of charge for health checks, screenings, vaccinations or even advice on mental health and contraception.

For Marielle, who came to get vaccinated against whooping cough, the program is a breath of fresh air: "It's been a long time since I've been to the doctor... It's difficult to get an appointment, the wait times are very long."

The same goes for Douja, a mother who admits to neglecting her own health: "If my daughter is sick, I take her straight to the doctor. But if it's me, I stay home, telling myself it will pass. We're not a priority."

On-site, some also benefit from an eye checkup. "We saw the optician for our eyes," says one participant, relieved to be able to access this follow-up without a complicated appointment.

For François Jacquemin, the vaccination center's referring physician, the challenge is clear: "These villages are an opportunity to reconnect with medicine. There's even a stand where you can find a general practitioner and re-enter the healthcare system."

This initiative is being led by the City of Marseille in collaboration with the ARS (Regional Health Insurance Agency), the CPAM (Health Insurance Fund), and the Prefecture for Equal Opportunities. The first edition, in 2024, mobilized nearly 40 partners and enabled 375 residents to enroll in a health program. The next "health village" will be held in the 15th arrondissement, this coming Thursday and Friday.