Health · Public Health & Disease · 47 mins ago
France launches campaign as antibiotic use rises
France’s national health insurance system has relaunched a campaign against unnecessary antibiotic use with a slogan first used in 2002.
The campaign comes as antibiotic prescriptions in France have risen 4.8% in a year since 2024.
Antibiotics treat bacterial infections, but they do not work against viral illnesses such as flu or colds.
Yet 40% of people mistakenly think antibiotics can treat viral illnesses.
Using antibiotics too often can help bacteria develop resistance, making infections harder to treat.
The World Health Organization said in 2024 that one in six bacterial infections worldwide involved resistant bacteria.
Resistant bacteria cause an estimated 5,000 to 12,000 deaths in France each year, and the campaign aims to encourage more careful use of these medicines.
France’s health insurance system has launched a campaign urging people not to use antibiotics automatically, as prescriptions have risen since 2024.
The campaign revives the slogan “Antibiotics are REALLY not automatic,” first used in 2002.
Health authorities say antibiotic overuse can contribute to resistance, which causes between 5,000 and 12,000 deaths in France each year.
About 40% of people in France wrongly believe antibiotics can treat viral illnesses such as flu or colds.
France remains among the highest antibiotic consumers in the OECD, ranking third behind Greece and Spain.
- Who
- France’s health insurance system launched the campaign.
- What
- It is a prevention campaign urging people to use antibiotics appropriately.
- When
- It was reported on November 6, 2026.
- Where
- France.
- Why
- Antibiotic prescriptions have risen, and overuse can contribute to antibiotic resistance.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The health insurance system used the slogan “Antibiotics are not automatic” in a campaign.
Antibiotic consumption fell by 16%, equivalent to 6.4 million inappropriate treatments, according to the article.
Antibiotic prescriptions in France have tended to rise, increasing 4.8% over a year.
Franceinfo reported the launch of a new campaign using an updated version of the 2002 slogan.
- Campaign slogan
- Antibiotics are REALLY not automatic
- Prescription trend
- Up 4.8% over a year
- Annual deaths in France
- 5,000 to 12,000 from resistant bacteria
- Misconception
- 40% wrongly think antibiotics can treat viral illnesses
- OECD ranking
- France is third in antibiotic consumption, behind Greece and Spain
2 sources
What people are saying
This leads to treatment failures.