(Re)building Trust in the Health System?

The recurrence of major health scandals (Mediator case, Levothyrox crisis, etc.) is due to multiple causes but has a deleterious effect on users’ confidence in health products, and beyond all, in the institutions that regulate them. Despite advances in knowledge, tools and fundamental science, the reception and the acceptance of medical knowledge has never been more confronted with mistrust and hostility. For example, the anti-vaccination movement relies on rumours and false information, but has a strong adherence, attested by the resumption of measles cases, including some mortals, in France or Italy. Distrust also seems to permeate relations between health professionals and health authorities (health insurance, Ministry of Health, ARS, etc.).

Is this mistrust of each other generated by a defect of clear and precise information? Is it linked to the perception of a lack of independence of health professionals from the giants of the pharmaceutical industry? Is it a “bad balance” or, in other words, they don’t trust each other because they think the other doesn’t trust them? Does this mistrust have an economic cost? In terms of public health?

The construction of a new “health pact” is possible, however, recalling that trust is reciprocal, or not. Can new technologies facilitate the rebuilding of this trust, especially by paying more attention to the voice of patients? Is a more coercive approach (mandatory vaccines, for example) necessary and/or desirable?