French doctors launch an unlimited strike against the law regulating practice locations. Critics warn forcing doctors to work in rural areas will worsen healthcare shortages and burnout.

Clara Fontaine | Europeans24 France Correspondent

Across France, medical offices are shutting their doors today as doctors, interns, and medical students launch an unlimited national strike. At the heart of their anger is a proposed law that would regulate where doctors are allowed to establish their practices, aiming to tackle France’s growing “medical desert” crisis. But for thousands of healthcare workers, the government’s solution risks compounding the problem rather than fixing it.

At first glance, the plan seems logical: if rural areas lack doctors while urban centres have a higher density, why not require new doctors to settle where they are needed? But speaking to physicians on the ground, it becomes clear that forcing doctors to move to underserved areas could further discourage young people from practicing medicine altogether — at a time when France already faces critical shortages.

A Strike Rooted in Deep Frustration

The “Doctors for Tomorrow” association, led by figures like Dr. Romain Humbert, is spearheading the protest. “It will be a massive reaction to defend the future of access to care for all French people,” Humbert said. “Regulating where doctors can practice will not solve the shortage of healthcare providers. The key to resolving this crisis is making the profession attractive again.”

Humbert points out a worrying trend: 60% of young doctors are abandoning family medicine for salaried positions in hospitals or alternative sectors. The heavy workload, administrative burdens, and lack of autonomy are pushing the next generation of physicians away from private practice. Adding forced geographic restrictions only worsens the situation.

Tomorrow, striking doctors and interns will take to the streets of major French cities and Paris, voicing their opposition not just to the proposed Garot bill — currently being debated in the National Assembly — but also to the “Pact to Combat Medical Deserts” unveiled by François Bayrou last week.

“You Can’t Force Passion”

Among the loudest critics is Charlie Loquais, a general medicine intern in Toulouse. Comparing the situation to “spreading too little jam over too much toast”, Loquais bluntly explains that there are no longer any “over-supplied” areas in France.

“Either there’s enough jam or there isn’t. Spreading it thinner won’t create more,” he says, noting that similar measures in Germany and Quebec simply led doctors to settle just outside restricted areas or abandon private practice entirely.

“Just because you prevent a doctor from setting up in the city centre doesn’t mean he’ll move to a rural area,” Loquais warns.

This, experts agree, is one of the fundamental misunderstandings driving the government’s approach. Without addressing the real reasons behind the declining attractiveness of the profession — gruelling hours, administrative overload, and financial insecurity — relocation mandates will simply drive more young physicians out of traditional practice.

A Profession on the Brink

Recent studies reveal a staggering 50% burnout rate among general practitioners in France. Interns fare even worse: two-thirds report experiencing burnout symptoms. On average, French GPs work between 55 and 60 hours a week, often sacrificing personal and family life.

For many medical students, like Loquais, the future looks daunting. After over a decade of training, often finishing around the age of 30, many consider taking a break before contemplating private practice — a luxury some feel guilty even admitting to.

“In theory, we are passionate about caring for people,” Loquais says. “But vocation can’t excuse endless overwork, administrative burden, and a lack of respect.”

He highlights another factor: urbanisation. Many young doctors end up staying near the cities where they trained because that’s where their social and professional networks are rooted. Unless this trend is recognised and addressed, expecting a wave of young doctors to suddenly flood into remote rural villages is wishful thinking.

The Wrong Solution to a Real Problem

The “medical desert” crisis is undeniable. France’s ageing population, the rise of chronic illnesses, and years of restrictive policies like the numerus clausus (which capped the number of medical students) have all contributed to a shrinking pool of practising physicians.

But rather than address underlying causes, the government’s plan risks alienating the very workforce it desperately needs. Medical unions argue that measures should focus on:

Reducing bureaucracy to give doctors more time with patients.
Offering financial incentives for rural practice.
Improving working conditions through better support staff and infrastructure.
Facilitating easier professional mobility within regions.
Investing in telemedicine to supplement in-person care in remote areas.

Simply put, young doctors need to be attracted to rural practice — not coerced into it.

A Broader Crisis of Confidence

The strike comes at a delicate time for the French healthcare system, which continues to struggle with the aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic. Public confidence in healthcare authorities remains fragile, and resentment among healthcare workers is deepening.

Some political analysts warn that pushing through unpopular reforms without consensus risks triggering a broader backlash similar to the “Yellow Vest” movement that shook France in 2018.

Meanwhile, cities like Orléans and Tours will see delegations traveling to Paris for a national demonstration tomorrow, a visible sign that dissatisfaction is widespread, not limited to major metropolitan hubs.

A Crossroads for French Healthcare

Whether the government will reconsider its approach remains uncertain. Proponents argue that drastic measures are necessary to ensure healthcare access for all citizens. Opponents counter that you cannot legislate away structural problems without risking further erosion of the healthcare workforce.

What is certain is that France faces a critical crossroads. Will it listen to the doctors, interns, and students — the future of its healthcare system — or will it double down on top-down policies that, while well-intentioned, may ultimately deepen the crisis?

As thousands of white coats march through Paris tomorrow, one message will ring loud and clear:
“Healthcare reform must begin by respecting those who deliver it.”