[Medical and economic aspects of handicaps]

Handicap has heavy economic implications. Pensions, whose the amount is about 127 billions of french francs, are paid, every year, to disabled persons. But the medical charges of these persons, paid by the social security, are not established, nor the wealth undoing. On the other hand, a lot of jobs are run to take care of the handicapped and many rehabilitation units and homes are devoted to them (33,000 beds) as well as adapted employment (81,000 places). The risk of dependency in the elderly has led to a deep change in the allocation of many savings. Rehabilitation cost-effective programs are contributive to reduce handicaps; significant demonstrations has been given for many common diseases as low back pain, post-stroke hemiplegia, osteoporosis.