Early Mobilization Targets Parliament
A major strike by France’s liberal doctors, announced for January 2026, has effectively begun this week. While seven representative unions have called for a massive work stoppage starting January 5, 2026, a preliminary mobilization was launched on Wednesday, December 3, 2025. The move is strategically timed to pressure members of parliament as they examine the 2026 Social Security budget, which resumed debate in the National Assembly on Tuesday.
Immediate Administrative Actions
The intersyndicale, an alliance of unions representing both general practitioners and specialists, is calling on doctors to initiate several administrative actions immediately. These include:
- Refusing to sign “France Santé” engagement contracts, a government initiative to guarantee appointments within 48 hours.
- Ceasing to update the Shared Medical File (DMP), a digital health record system.
- Requesting that sick leave certificates be validated by the Amelipro medical service.
- Encouraging doctors over 60 to declare their cessation of activity to regional health agencies six months in advance.
According to Dr. Florian Cormonies, a psychiatrist and vice-president of the French Federation of Doctors, the goal is to exert pressure “on the government and especially the deputies” while the budget is under discussion.
The Stakes for January
The unions have promised an unprecedented strike starting January 5, 2026. They are asking doctors to begin postponing patient appointments now and are planning a national demonstration in Paris for January 7. An “Operation Brussels” is also proposed, encouraging practitioners to relocate to Brussels during the strike period to avoid potential requisition by French authorities.
Roots of the Dispute
The doctors’ anger is focused on specific articles within the draft 2026 Social Security Financing Bill (PLFSS). Key grievances include:
- Articles 21 bis and bis A: Pertaining to the France Santé network, which unions argue imposes a state-organized healthcare system that bypasses conventional negotiation and threatens professional independence.
- Article 24: Would allow the National Health Insurance Fund to unilaterally lower tariffs for services deemed “too profitable” without negotiation. Dr. Cormonies criticizes the vagueness, stating, “What does ‘too profitable’ mean? They can do what they want with this measure.”
- Article 31: Introduces financial penalties—up to €2,500 per infraction and €10,000 annually—for failures to use the Shared Medical File, which is currently mandatory but without sanctions.
The intersyndicale condemns the budget, claiming it “dramatically worsens access to care” and replaces health democracy with state planning, eliminating conventional negotiation and granting central administration the power to unilaterally cut consultation fees.
