For Pietro Tomé, president of Afemise, the French association for myalgic encephalomyelitis, this represents a genuine step forward for patients, who have often heard “It’s all in your head,” or “There’s nothing wrong with you,” during medical consultations.
According to him, there has been a “very strong psychologization of the illness, with everything being explained by a psychological problem.” “All you’d have to do is do a little exercise, make a little effort and meditate a little, and you’d feel much better,” he says ironically, before adding: “This is really something that people suffer from quite profoundly in France.”
Following the update by the national health insurance system, Afemise described it as an “important step forward” on its website on August 8. “The national health insurance system’s Ameli website has just published a detailed page on ME/CFS.
In particular, it recognizes post-exertional malaise as a central symptom, the different levels of severity, the importance of pacing [energy management], and the risks associated with graded exercise programs.”
The association described this “institutional” recognition as an “important milestone” and said it would continue “to work toward obtaining French recommendations, training, and genuinely appropriate care pathways.”
actu.fr
