French health minister gains in government shake-up:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
The French minister for health and social protection, Philippe Douste-Blazy, has had his portfolio expanded to cover family affairs. The announcement follows the government reshuffle on November 29 in which Herve Gaymard, former agricultural minister, was named as minister for the economy, finances and industry, replacing Nicolas Sarkozy, and Jean-Francois Cope, former minister delegate for the Interior and still government spokesman, was named minister delegate for the budget and budgetary reform at Mr Gaymard's ministry. There was some surprise that Xavier Bertrand, who has been instrumental in helping to push forward the healthcare reforms, was not given a new title; he remains as secretary of state for sickness insurance.