Why it may be hard to get a doctor’s appointment this week in France

Several doctors and healthcare unions in France are backing major strike action in the sector this week, set to potentially limit access to non-urgent healthcare across France. 

Unions are calling on doctors to walk out over a controversial new bill that would require new doctors to work in France's ‘medical deserts’.

Several medical cabinets are set to close and major demonstrations taking place across France on Tuesday (April 29).

Strike action is set to last at least throughout the week, with the potential to roll over into May. 

What are doctors striking over? 

Doctors are striking over a new healthcare bill that if passed would restrict where new medical professionals can set up a cabinet. 

The bill prevents any new cabinets being set up in areas with a sufficient number of doctors/specialists in that sector, unless they are taking over the position of a retiring doctor. 

In turn, this would effectively force doctors to open their cabinets in areas with a lack of doctors (medical deserts) while they wait for a spot to become available. 

The bill, brought forward by Socialist Party MP Guillaume Garot is not backed by the government but has received cross-party support in the Assemblée nationale and a preliminary reading of the bill passed earlier this month. 

The rest of the bill will be debated in May.

The measure has been described as “coercion… and a knife to the throat,” by president of the Young Doctors union Anna Boctor. 

“Promoting access to healthcare for the French by opposing the primary players in the field, namely doctors, makes no sense,” she said (quoted in France Info).

‘We need to create a health risk’ 

While not all unions in the sector are supporting strike action, several major groups representing independent doctors are calling on members to close practices at the start of the week. 

The Syndicat des Médecins Généralistes (the largest group of independent doctors) is recommending ‘demonstrating with young doctors, because they are the ones targeted [by the bill],’ 

“Politicians are not listening,” said surgeon Philippe Cuq, head of the Union des Chirurgiens de France to AFP. 

“We've given instructions on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to stop all activities. As far as possible. Because we have major constraints with scheduled surgeries,” he added. 

“I believe that, to get politicians moving, we need to create a risk. A health risk. That's the only thing that will make politicians listen,” he said. 

What effect on patients? 

Strike action is expected to severely impact medical appointments at surgeries and cabinets across France, as senior doctors walk out to support junior colleagues. 

This means non-urgent appointments at local practices may be cancelled if they have already been scheduled, or it may not be possible to book an appointment with your usual GP or find an available doctor. 

However, the strike is not expected to severely impact outpatient appointments at hospitals, nor affect urgent care at these establishments. 

If you are in urgent need of medical assistance, you should follow the usual practice (such as calling 15, France’s emergency medical number). 

Extended strike action may cause a backlog in available slots, as doctors catch up on missed appointments. 

However, this will depend on how long the strikes last. 

Read more: What to do if you need a doctor during strike action