Air Liquide presents a project to transform its Home Healthcare activity in France

On July 5, 2023, the management of Air Liquide Healthcare presented a project to transform its Home Healthcare activity in France to employee representatives. The project aims to address the needs and expectations of patients and healthcare professionals, and to adapt the activity’s business model to meet the challenges of the healthcare system.

The aging of the population, combined with the increasing prevalence of chronic illnesses and the desire of the vast majority of French people to be able to stay at home for as long as possible, place home healthcare (HHC) as an essential component in the organization of the healthcare system. However, the homecare model in France is threatened by a number of factors: the continuing erosion of reimbursement levels, rising costs linked to a regulatory framework which  requires an obligation of means not adapted to individual patient needs, the adoption of new, more expensive, technologies and the acceleration of the inflationary context since 2021.

Despite this context, Air Liquide continues to firmly believe in this business and its professions. Since 1986, the Air Liquide Group has made home healthcare one of its strategic priorities. Today, with 1.9 million patients with chronic illnesses being cared for at home, worldwide, Air Liquide's ambition is to support the shift to homecare, and to provide more personalized attention to the needs of patients and healthcare professionals, through outcome-based care for patients, at the best possible cost to the healthcare system.

As a key partner of the healthcare system, Air Liquide intends to make a responsible contribution to its necessary transformation by defining a new organizational model for its Home Healthcare activities in France.

The transformation project presented to employee representatives would involve reshaping the operational organization of one of the Group's main homecare entities, Pharma Dom, simplifying its brand portfolio, and regrouping some of its locations. It would also aim to bring together certain cross-functional roles within a single entity. A technology investment plan is part of this transformation project, in order to optimize processes and facilitate the day-to-day work of teams for patient care and their exchanges with healthcare professionals.

Currently subject to consultation with employee representatives, this project would lead to a reduction of 430 net positions. In line with the Group's values, the plan would provide for the implementation of appropriate measures to support all employees concerned.

Philippe Ogé, VP Home Healthcare France, explains:

Air Liquide Healthcare wants to propose new models of homecare, enabling better organization of care pathways and quality of life for patients, at the best possible cost to the healthcare system. This indispensable transformation will be carried out in consultation with our social partners. We will pay particular attention to supporting our teams and maintaining a constructive social dialogue.