Health · Healthcare & Policy · 2 hrs ago
France’s rural doctor support plan has reached only a third of its target
In April 2025, François Bayrou’s government asked general practitioners to spend a few days each month helping areas in France with too few doctors.
The plan has reached only a third of its target nearly two years later.
Of 153 designated areas, only about 50 have received help, partly because few doctors volunteered.
In Haute-Vienne, one participating doctor gives half a day a month to a village that has had no doctor for six years, but patients face a difficult online booking process.
Doctors also have to set up equipment and paperwork for each visit, while some say that temporary cover can disrupt care for their own patients.
The scheme has provided thousands of consultations, but regional health officials say it cannot fix deeper problems such as training and working conditions.
France has also deployed 3,000 junior doctors in rural areas since 2 November 2026; the sources do not say what comes next for the support plan.
France’s plan to send doctors to areas with few medical services has put in place only about a third of the planned reinforcements.
Of 153 designated medical shortage areas, only about 50 have received help from doctors so far.
The plan, announced in April 2025, asks general practitioners to work a few days each month in underserved areas.
A shortage of volunteers, difficulties booking appointments and administrative demands have hindered the scheme.
Regional health officials say the doctors have carried out thousands of consultations, but the scheme was not designed to solve structural problems in medical access.
- Who
- The French government launched the plan, and general practitioners provide the reinforcements.
- What
- The scheme sends doctors to medical shortage areas for a few days each month. Only about a third of the planned reinforcements have been put in place.
- When
- The plan was launched in April 2025. Franceinfo reported on its results on 12 November 2026.
- Where
- In 153 designated medical shortage areas in France.
- Why
- To address shortages of doctors and medical services in underserved areas.
Participating doctors and critics
Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional Health Agency
Purpose
Participating doctors and critics
Critics say the scheme is often ineffective and can complicate continuity of care.
Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional Health Agency
The agency says the reinforcements have delivered thousands of consultations.
Limits
Participating doctors and critics
Doctors point to low volunteer numbers, booking difficulties and administrative burdens.
Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional Health Agency
The agency says the scheme was not intended to solve structural causes such as training, where doctors settle and working conditions.
François Bayrou, then prime minister, launched an appeal for general practitioners to support underserved areas for a few days each month.
France began deploying 3,000 junior doctors in rural areas.
Franceinfo reported that only about a third of the planned reinforcements had been put in place.
- Designated areas
- 153 medical shortage areas
- Areas receiving help
- About 50
- Planned deployment
- 3,000 junior doctors
- Launch
- April 2025
- Reported date
- 12 November 2026
2 sources
What people are saying
it is extremely time-consuming to organize
thousands of consultations have been carried out by these doctors
not intended to solve our structural problems of medical deserts, which are linked to questions of training, installation, working conditions...