French Taxi Drivers Protest New Medical Transport Rules, Causing Major Disruptions

Drivers oppose reduced tariffs, mandatory shared rides, and potential service quality declines under a proposed health insurance agreement.

Thousands of taxi drivers across France, including in Paris, Lyon, and Marseille, have mobilized to protest changes to medical transport regulations under a new health insurance convention set for 2025.
The proposed agreement includes reduced tariffs for patient transport and mandates shared rides, which drivers argue will harm service quality and patient experience, particularly in rural areas and medical deserts.
Blockades and slow-moving convoys have caused significant traffic disruptions, with over 500 kilometers of congestion reported in Île-de-France and major delays in cities like Lyon and Marseille.
Drivers emphasize the social role they play for patients, many of whom rely on taxis as a lifeline for regular treatments and personal interactions, warning that the new rules treat patients like goods rather than people.
The government aims to save €300 million annually on medical transport costs, citing rising expenses, but taxi drivers warn of financial losses for their industry and negative impacts on vulnerable patients.