Historic Strike: French Private Doctors Unite in Unprecedented Protest Against Health Budget

A Historic Show of Defiance by Private Doctors

Starting Monday, France’s private doctors are launching a 10-day nationwide strike — described by medical unions as “unprecedented in scope and unity.” Running until January 15, 2026, the strike reflects deep discontent over the government’s health financing law and perceived interference in doctors’ autonomy.

For the first time in decades, the six major medical unions — CSMF, MG France, SML, FMF, UFML-S, and Avenir Spé-Le Bloc — have joined forces. They are joined by interns, young doctors, and student organizations, making this one of the most cohesive professional movements in modern French healthcare.

“Doctors feel betrayed. I haven’t seen such determination in 30 years,” said Frank Devulder, President of the CSMF, France’s leading doctors’ union.

Massive Disruption Expected Across Clinics

Many GP surgeries and specialist practices will close their doors starting January 5.
Private surgical blocks and clinics expect up to 80% of operating rooms to shut down between January 10 and 14, according to Lamine Gharbi, head of the Federation of Private Hospitals.
A major national march is planned for Saturday, January 10, starting from the Panthéon and heading toward the Ministry of Health in Paris.

Patients have been urged to avoid non-urgent consultations and seek emergency care only for critical conditions.

Why Are Doctors So Angry?

At the heart of the protest lies the 2026 Social Security Financing Law (LFSS) — passed in December despite widespread opposition from the medical community. While the government softened parts of the bill after backlash, most doctors see the measures as an attack on their independence.

Key Points of Contention

Article 24: allows the national insurance provider to revise medical fees if it considers some doctor incomes “excessive,” threatening the long-standing principle of tariff negotiation.
Franchise and Taxation Reversal: though the government abandoned doubling medical franchises and taxing fee overruns, many see this as “too little, too late.”
Constitutional Court Intervention: Article 85, which proposed fines of up to €10,000 per year for failing to update electronic medical files (Dossier Médical Partagé), was struck down—but the damage to trust was done.

In short, many doctors believe the government’s approach reflects a loss of respect for the medical profession and a drift toward bureaucratic control.

The Government’s Last-Minute Attempt at Dialogue

Health Minister Stéphanie Rist addressed a letter to doctors on December 31, insisting that the government’s intentions were misunderstood. She reassured that there are “no plans to abolish Sector 2” (the system allowing partial fee setting) and promised that tariff adjustments would require negotiation, not imposition.

“My door remains open for dialogue,” Rist wrote.

But her message failed to calm tempers. Unions accused the government of “trampling on liberal medicine,” and “disconnecting from the daily realities of patient care.”

A Turning Point for France’s Health System

This movement goes beyond mere pay disputes — it questions the future of liberal medicine in France, already strained by doctor shortages, increasing administrative burdens, and falling morale.

If the strike garners the high participation forecast by unions, it could mark a key moment in redefining the balance of power between the state and the medical community — and reshape French healthcare for years to come.