Overview

• The French government has unveiled a 'pacte de lutte contre les déserts médicaux,' requiring all doctors to provide up to two days of consultations per month in medically underserved areas.
• The plan abandons coercive installation regulations and introduces financial incentives and penalties to enforce compliance with the solidarity mission.
• Starting in 2025, 3,700 fourth-year medical interns will be mobilized to deliver up to 15 million consultations annually in priority zones.
• Medical students will be required to complete at least one internship in underserved areas beginning in the 2026 academic year as part of broader reforms to address physician distribution.
• Medical unions have announced strikes and practice closures on April 28–29, opposing the Garot law and demanding systemic healthcare reforms.