Overview

• The National Assembly approved the Garot bill to regulate where doctors can practice, aiming to address medical deserts affecting 87% of France.
• Doctors must now seek Regional Health Agency approval to establish practices, with automatic approval in underserved areas and restrictions in well-served zones.
• The legislation also seeks to abolish surcharge fees for patients without a designated GP, reinstate on-call care obligations, and expand rural medical training.
• Medical unions and Health Minister Yannick Neuder oppose the bill, advocating instead for increased training, numerus clausus removal, and mandatory service days in priority zones.
• Nationwide protests and strikes by medical professionals highlight ongoing resistance, as the bill moves to the Senate for debate in the autumn legislative session.