PARIS, April 28 — France’s public hospitals today put the cost burden of treating coronavirus cases in the hundreds of millions as the government announced it was earmarking more cash for protective equipment.

The French Hospitals Federation (FHF) put the cost of treating tens of thousands of people since the virus first emerged at between €600 and 900 million  (RM2.8-4.3 billion).

Though the effect on hospitals in different regions has not been uniform the virus has engendered "very high levels of expenditure,” said FHF financial officer Cecile Chevance.

France, which is set on May 11 to begin emerging from a lockdown imposed in mid-March, had by Monday suffered 23,293 virus deaths for around 130,000 cases, according to official figures.

More than 28,000 people remain in hospital.

All the while, the bills are ticking up for items such as protective equipment and specialist care and intensive care capacity, as well as the wages of staff, many putting in considerable overtime to keep the spread of the disease at bay.

A further concern is the cost of having to put back treatment for thousands of patients with other ailments.

Chevance said it was vital due attention be paid to the state of hospital finances "in the short, medium and long term” with hospitals not "penalised” for the extra strain the virus has imposed upon them.

The FHF has urged the French authorities to provide financial guarantees to cope with the expenses they face as well as lost revenue, and fully guarantee the stay costs of virus patients.

FHF President Frederic Valletoux told a video conference hospitals must be allowed to provide maximum service unburdened by "budgetary considerations”.

The health ministry said last week that it would be making available 377 million euros as a first tranche of emergency aid towards the cost of treating the epidemic.

Secretary of state for the economy, Agnes Pannier-Runacher, meanwhile announced up to 40 millions euros of support towards domestic production of high-grade protective washable masks.

The government is offering the cash in subsidies for firms using innovative hi-tech materials to come up with new high-protection masks ahead of a June 30 deadline.  — AFP