Practical health

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

Is appointment information automatically added to online French health space?

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

practical

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

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

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

GRAPH: Variation in flu vaccination rates in France in last 16 years

Figures have fallen for three successive years, including for over 65s

What is a French attestation des droits? Is it necessary to have one?

Schools and nurseries often ask parents to provide this document

Could reimbursement rates for medical consultations be lowered in France?

Cost-cutting measure is reported to be under review. Any reduction is likely to see insurance costs rise

Visualise: Data on workers’ sick-leave days in France

Sick-leave is costing more and more each year, with authorities keen to reduce strain on healthcare budget

Is medicinal cannabis legal in France and is CBD available in high-street shops?

There are ongoing trials assessing the benefits of cannabis for certain serious illnesses

What are the rules for driving a mobility scooter in France?

The regulations can vary dependent upon the vehicle’s maximum speed

Ceam or Ghic: Which health card is right for Britons in France?

The choice is dependent upon which country funds your healthcare

Reminder: French medical analysis laboratories are on strike

Unions claim funding cuts will weaken services

Are there English-speaking dentists in France?

France does suffer from so-called ‘medical deserts’ which can affect all professions

€1 franchise fee proposed for medical devices in France

Adding the fee could save the state at least €259 million in healthcare costs, a new report claims

French medical laboratories issue strike notice for September

Unions say budget cuts of almost 10% may force closures, but state health authorities argue budget was already agreed

What essential health screenings are available for free in France?

Preventative cancer testing is provided but often depends on age, gender and pre-existing conditions

110,000 boxes of antibiotics recalled in France

Pharmacists must return stocks, but individuals should not in theory have any faulty medicines in their homes

Are Mpox (monkeypox) vaccines available in France?

Spread of new variant of virus is causing concern across world

Travelling outside France? Check which jabs you need

If you are heading for far-flung destinations, it is vital to have the right vaccinations

Hearing aid take-up soars in France following 100% reimbursement scheme

The 100% Santé Reform, launched in 2019, covers hearing, visual and dental equipment

Where can I find an English-speaking doctor in France?

Doctors are not allowed to ‘promote’ themselves via advertisements

Can we get help towards my wife’s respite care costs in France?

Certain low-income families may not benefit from tax reductions when it comes to respite care

Can I claim UK 'Attendance Allowance' if I live in France?

Brexit changed eligibility requirements for this benefit

Explained: home help options for the elderly in France

What are the financials aid, services and steps to access home assistance?

Nurses can now sign death certificates in France

A law giving nurses the authority to sign death certificates has been extended to the whole of the country

French physiotherapist battles with bureaucracy over New Zealand degree

She tells of her frustration at being unable to practise due to ‘nightmarish’ admin obstacles. ‘I am French, imagine if I was a foreigner,’ she said

French hospital staff announce a second strike in July

Workers at public hospitals - and some private ones - are affected. Patients are advised to check if their appointments are impacted

French health authority recommends anti-bronchitis vaccine for over 75s

It also advises that people aged over 65s with certain conditions also have it

Seven medicines used in France withdrawn over irregularities

Dozens more may be withdrawn over next two years, as effectiveness of drugs was not accurately evaluated in studies

What are ‘long’ birth certificates French authorities ask for?

Some official French administrative services may require this document

Dengue fever cases continue to rise in France

Number of cases has surged in 2024. So far all cases have been imported from people who have travelled abroad

Who can be a blood donor in France and how to help if subject to UK ban

It only takes 10 minutes to give blood, and booking an appointment is easy

French healthcare workers on strike over hospital bed closures

Patients urged to check if appointments have been cancelled

Do self-employed people have to take out mutuelle health insurance?

The cost of mutuelle health insurance varies according to age and level of cover, but can be around €1,000 or more per year.

Digital carte Vitale begins in many areas: where and how will it work?

Smartphone application can be used at medical appointments instead of physical card for payments and reimbursements

CONFIRMED: €30 fee to see a doctor in France from December 2024

Unions agreed to concessions in exchange for improved pay

Is the cost of buying contact lenses reimbursed in France?

The rules for contact lenses and glasses differ

French admin stops 'parkruns' in France

Volunteer-led network operates in 21 countries but has run into a legal hurdle in France over participants and medical certificates

How to register with a doctor in France and get a GP

Having a GP will help you fully benefit from the French healthcare system. We also answer some common questions about GPs in France

French property taxes, car sales, pharmacy strike: 5 practical updates

Our round-up of recent practical articles you may have missed

CALENDAR: Check to see you are up to date with vaccinations in France

The booster schedule for various diseases varies to that followed in the UK or US

Neurotoxin in wheat flour poisons 49 in Brittany

Victims, including five children, suffer hallucinations and confusion

Call for action to reduce mosquito numbers in France

Rise in tiger mosquito numbers has prompted regional health authorities to urge steps to prevent transmission of disease

What is changing for transport to and from hospitals in France?

Associations say patients will be put in difficult and vulnerable situations

What are options for older people and ‘wearable’ alarms in France?

These alarms connect to a helper when used

Is there a deadline to claim reimbursement of medical costs in France?

The status of reimbursements can be checked online via the Ameli website

Life expectancy – simple changes to benefit from France’s good stats

What can we learn from the French about living longer?

Medical fees, eco-grants, gas prices: 5 changes this May in France

We also include the French income tax declaration deadlines for residents and second-home owners and other dates coming up

Must children help to pay for elderly parents in French care homes?

There are strict rules dictating when family support is required

What dental work is covered with the 100% Santé scheme in France?

The scheme was introduced in 2020 and covers those in the healthcare system with mutuelle cover

Stay up-to-date: 20 recent and upcoming changes in France

We cover tax updates, renovation scheme revamps, possible money changes for British residents and more

Call for pharmacists to strike over medicine shortages in France

Total shutdown of pharmacies at end of May expected. 36 pharmacies closed in January 2024 for economic reasons

Doctor raises alert on sepsis in France, which kills 80,000 a year

‘It is vital to inform people’, said the leading professor, who believes it is less well-known in France than in the UK or US

Patients to pay more for doctor visits in France from May 15

The participation forfaitaire will double in most cases

How to be an organ donor in France

Family members are interviewed after a death over donation plans

Next Covid vaccination campaign to begin in France

Vulnerable people are advised to get booster shot before influx of visitors for Olympics

Health insurance in France: what you should expect to pay per age

Region and gender also plays a part in the total cost of top-ups. Policies are forecast to rise significantly this year

Why are more young people in France getting cancer?

Cancer may grow faster and recur more in younger people, but this group is also better at spotting symptoms, one specialist says

Health strike, foreigners’ tax errors, scams: French practical updates

Our round-up of recent practical articles you may have missed

June strike call for private clinics and hospitals in France

200,000 private healthcare workers may walk out over hospital funding row

What is the easiest way to get new glasses in France?

There are a number of options, but beware of what prescription you use

Do Britons lose access to NHS healthcare when moving to France?

When leaving the UK it is necessary to inform the NHS of non-residency

Long-term health patients fear reimbursement reforms in France

Millions of people, such as cancer and Alzheimer’s patients, are subject to a special scheme due to their serious health conditions

New buyers left owing €300,000 for uninhabitable ‘mouldy’ French home

Couple were forced to leave after six months as their newborn baby fell sick due to fungus-related issues

What is the hold-up in dealing with medicine shortages in France?

Delays have led to a ‘lack of a roadmap’ making it ‘difficult to make progress’ after years of shortages, says an industry expert