La Revue de médecine interne
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In the context of the French National Health Service, a free access to healthcare facilities (the PASS: "permanence d'accès aux soins de santé") has been implanted in 2000 for patients without health insurance or those dealing with financial hardship. There is few data about socio-demographic characteristics of the patients using these services. The objective of this study was to provide descriptive data about socio-demographic characteristics and motivation of those patients who use these clinics. ⋯ The findings of this study suggest that the PASS carry out their mission: most of the patients frequenting these facilities live under poor conditions and are in poor health status compared to the patients having access to conventional outpatient services.