Overview
- Several thousand doctors marched in Paris on January 10 during a national strike running January 5–15 to defend what they call their freedom to practice.
- Activity in private practice fell by about 19% for general practitioners and 12% for specialists on Tuesday, according to Assurance Maladie data cited by the health minister.
- Hospitals report sustained pressure on emergency departments during a severe flu wave and recent bad weather, with some facilities triggering plan blanc contingencies such as at the Toulouse university hospital.
- Private clinics began shutting operating rooms and canceling elective procedures, and regional authorities issued requisitions to ensure minimum services, including dozens of doctors at Bordeaux Nord Aquitaine.
- The intersyndicale refused a meeting offered by Health Minister Stéphanie Rist and is seeking engagement from Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, protesting measures on unilateral fee-setting, tighter sick-leave rules, prescription targets and potential installation limits.