French health fund sues tobacco firms

The Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie, France’s national health insurance fund, is suing a number of tobacco companies. The move, by a regional branch of the fund in Saint-Nazaire, is designed to recoup the costs of caring for smokers affected by cancer and other smoking-related illnesses. It is also seeking compensation to cover the cost of smoking-related health care and cancer-screening facilities.