Health

France’s healthcare system remains among world’s best in latest ranking

New report highlights access to quality and affordable care

Almost all of France is now on maximum alert for pollen allergies

Only the north and north-west have escaped the highest risk level so far

Flu cases still rising in these 14 French departments

Nationwide levels are showing a marked decline but the south-west is still particularly impacted

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Digital health cards, prescriptions, no-show fees: what impacts you as France’s 2025 health budget is finally approved

Healthcare will cost state over €265 billion in 2025 estimates budget

Many cigarette prices expected to fall in France this March

The reduction in prices comes after several months of increases

High risk of allergies in southeast France

The national air monitoring network has issued advice for people allergic to alder, hazel, cypress pollen

Did you know? La Poste will pick up medicines from a pharmacy and deliver them to you

Postal service is one of numerous services that are part of growing medical delivery sector

Pre-Brexit Ehics ending: what visitors to France need to do

Some 1.8 million UK Ehics are estimated to come up for renewal this year

Long life: Which areas of France are set to have many centenarians and why?

Overseas departments fare the best but some areas in mainland France and Corsica also rank highly

Why are pancreatic cancer cases rising sharply in France?

A record 15,991 cases were confirmed in 2023, and France is the fourth-most affected country worldwide

Renewal and updates: what are the rules for French health cards?

Does our top-up insurance have to match the card dates?

Anti-obesity drug Wegovy: latest on availability and reimbursement in France

The drug has been available on prescription since October 2024

How to find a dentist in France

Your options for finding routine and emergency dental care as well as English speaking practitioners

Widely prescribed mental health drugs out of stock in French pharmacies

French medical authorities have asked other countries for help tackling shortage

Health insurance in France: See average mutuelle cost for retirees after new rises

Prices have been rising steadily for several years with older people hardest hit

Explained: France’s ‘power of attorney’ equivalent

France's mandat de protection future allows a named person to make decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so

Tap water contamination: Is your French region highlighted in new report?

Dordogne was the worst-affected department in the ‘major health scandal’, the analysis said

People in France can have 12 mental health support sessions per year reimbursed

Referrals by a doctor are no longer required

How hospital charges work in France and what is and is not covered by the state

Those without a top-up mutuelle insurance can see significantly higher fees

French doctors challenge new prescription decree

Concerns are voiced over patient confidentiality and increased workload due to government mandate

How do I deal with my sciatica and back pain in France?

Around 150,000 cases of sciatica are recorded each year in France

Minister issues warning as flu cases set to peak in France

Face masks are recommended for those with symptoms and vulnerable groups are advised to get vaccinated

How cold is it going to be in France and for how long? Tips to stay healthy

The freezing weather is showing no signs of abating, with temperatures as low as -9C

Hospital flu admissions on rise in France: Is it too late to get vaccinated?

Every region of the country is now at epidemic level

Are shingles vaccines free for people in the French health system?

A new vaccine was recommended by health authorities last year

MAP: 35 French hospitals activate a ‘white plan’ due to flu cases - what it means

Non-urgent care may be cancelled among other measures as medical teams deal with the influx of virus patients

AI used to tackle dermatologist shortage in France

SkinMed allows photos to be analysed by artificial intelligence and health professionals

Why your carte Vitale health card may have stopped working in France

We look at possible reasons and solutions if you have difficulties this January

First case of new Mpox variant recorded in France

Vaccines are available to some groups against the disease

We took up sea-wading in France and found it great for health and making friends

Couple discover the benefits of wading since moving from the UK to the French coastal town of Soulac-sur-Mer

Doctors in France to receive €1,000 bonus for prescribing fewer drugs

One-third of doctors are already eligible for the bonus as they prescribe less medicine than the national average

Flu epidemic continues in France, under-15s and over-65s most affected

The entire country is still on ‘red alert’ for flu, but bronchiolitis is dropping

Why do more people in France die on January 3 than any other day?

Mortality from all causes peaks today, with one expert suggesting reasons behind the risk

People in France living longer in good health - and for longer than in UK and US

New official data also shows a rise in the number of years of good health before disability begins to affect quality of life

How much do doctors earn in France?

Self-employed doctors are the highest paid of all ‘liberal’ professions in the country

Change to printed information leaflets for several medicines used in France

QR codes will allow details to be updated and include videos of how to take medicine

New rules aim to ease lack of dentists in many rural parts of France

Practices opening in areas with an existing high number of dentists will not receive state reimbursement

Eating Camembert improves memory (at least in mice), new report says

The research study focused on chemicals created in the cheese’s fermentation process

Healthcare: What's new in France in 2025

Certain specialist tariffs will rise in July 2025, impacting insurance premiums and healthcare access

State of French healthcare: key points of new official report

Findings included high patient satisfaction but still a too-high risk of infection in hospitals

French top-up insurance to increase by 6% in 2025

Ageing population and reduced state coverage cited as some of reasons behind hike

Is there financial help to purchase a mobility scooter in France?

Some UK disability benefits remain for Britons living across the Channel

Must I telephone first before going to hospital emergency centre in France?

The health ministry wants to reduce the strain on hospital services

Epidemic alerts raised in France: see how your area is affected

Bronchiolitis is bad nationwide while flu indicators are increasing in the north and east

GPs and specialists: List of new fees starting December 2024 in France

Fees will rise for consultations, firstly later this month, and again in July 2025

French firm succeeds in drone defibrillators deliveries

Life-saving equipment can reach victims within minutes, faster than ambulances

Is long-term illness care in France poised to change?

Long-term care costs make up around two-thirds of social security spending

Weight loss drug Wegovy may soon be reimbursed in France

Subject to Health Ministry approval the drug could be reimbursed under certain conditions

Is appointment information automatically added to online French health space?

Documents can be found online for healthcare professionals and patients to see

‘Medicines to avoid in 2025’ list published by French medical review

Of 106 medicines, 88 are still available to buy in France

Hospital transport change: French taxi driver protests cause 490km of traffic jams

Blockades are underway as drivers fear redundancies and bankruptcies

French MPs propose quotas for public toilets in towns

‘This is a public health issue for people with illnesses such as Crohn's or diabetes, for the elderly and for children’

What is changing for daily life in France this December?

A rise in fees for doctor consultations is a key change. There is also the opening of a new stretch of toll-barrier free - but paying - motorway

New date set for stricter painkiller prescription rules in France

Introduction of ‘secure prescriptions’ for tramadol and codeine delayed after some pharmacists said they were not ready

How medical assistants are helping in areas that lack doctors in France

Role is intended to help free up GP time so they can treat more patients

French senate votes for increase in taxes on tobacco, gambling and soda

A packet of cigarettes will cost on average €12.70 next year if propositions are included in final budget

Fact check: Does France offer world’s most generous health reimbursement?

It comes after a government spokesperson made the claim this week

Why do some French GPs charge more than others?

The price of a consultation is rising in December - but some already bill patients at €30 instead of €26.50

French health minister proposes lower reimbursement of medicine

Patients (or their top-up insurance) will need to pay more if the proposal goes ahead

Checks and safety laws explained after death in France from carbon monoxide

It kills around 100 and affects 3,000 people every year in France

Covid-19: What is latest situation in France ahead of Christmas?

Santé Publique France revealed new figures in its latest update

Dozens fall ill in French train station as man pours toxic liquid on floor

The man spilled the liquid and then ‘calmly boarded a train’, police say

Marathon effort boosts cancer support in France

Runners join Nice-Cannes Marathon to fund English-language cancer support services in Alpes-Maritimes

Child health booklets in France will be updated to include risks of screen time

Report by experts recommends banning screens for children under the age of three

Many French hospitals trial fingertip test for heart disease

Test takes 15 minutes and can detect early signs of the disease

French study tests psychedelics in alcoholism therapy

A groundbreaking experiment explores how psilocybin can be used to combat depressive symptoms in alcohol recovery

Strepsils, Olbas Oil, TCP: Find French equivalents to common remedies

Moving to France means navigating pharmacies and hunting down alternatives to treat everyday ailments

French carmarker provides solution for noisy roads

Engineers utilise vehicle noise-cancelling data to identify road noise and reduce environmental impact

Moving to France: how does a retiree apply for a health card?

The card is linked to your social security number, which you must apply for first

EU citizens have difficulty obtaining French digital health cards

The paperwork required to sign up for the service is available to residency card holders and French citizens but not to other EU residents of France

Alert over mushroom picking in France after death and poisonings

Several poisonous mushrooms can easily be mistaken for safe varieties, experts warn

France steps up HPV vaccination campaign in schools

Health authority aims for 80% vaccination rate among children by 2030 to combat HPV-related cancers

French hospitals’ revolutionary exoskeleton enables wheelchair-bound patients to walk

The technology improves their health and independence - and may soon be available for use in homes

Tiger mosquitoes are still biting in France in November - wlll it end soon?

The insect can spread disease and is found in many areas of the country

Photos: Hi-tech medical concept van to serve rural France unveiled

New vehicle aims to provide medical services in areas lacking doctors, equipped with advanced diagnostic tools