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Robin Hood doctor on trial for snubbing social security rules

French doctor Didier Poupardin is going on trial for allowing poor patients to get social security medicine free of charge. A campaign to support him is gaining momentum in France.

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French leftwing daily Libération says he looks the part, a modern-day Robin Hood, with a long beard and a warm sparkle in his eyes. Didier Poupardin is a general practitioner in the Paris suburbs, and an activist who campaigns for free access to medical aid.

On Wednesday, he appeared in court to face charges he failed to respect social security rules. Pourpardin admits he has written up prescriptions giving patients with long-term illnesses 100 percent refunds for medication.

According to French social security rules, patients with long-term illnesses such as cancer, aids and heart problems, are given 100 percent refunds only on medication related to their illnesses but have to contribute to paying for non-related medication.

Poupardin does not bother with such nuances and says his patients cannot afford to buy medication. “My patients are destitute, Roma people, undocumented workers,” he told Libération, “I know they can’t pay for medicine. Often it's impossible to decide what’s related and what’s not related to a long-term illness.”

Several times, the French social security has reprimanded the doctor for his liberalism, before taking him to court over the refunds. It is claiming 2,612 euros of refunds, 2,000 euros in damages and a penalty of 4,000 euros.

In France, Poupardin's battle for free access to medical help is starting to make waves. Last week, the president of MG-France, the main trade union representing general practitioners, wrote a letter of support in favour of Poupardin.
 

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