François Bayrou Unveils €5 Billion Healthcare Spending Cuts Plan
François Bayrou details a €5 billion healthcare cuts plan as part of a €43 billion public spending reduction.
Key Points
- • François Bayrou aims to cut healthcare spending by €5 billion for 2026.
- • The plan includes raising the medical franchise from €50 to €100 yearly.
- • Reforms for long-term illness management will limit medication reimbursements.
- • Introduction of shared medical records and AI to improve healthcare efficiency.
On July 15, 2025, French Prime Minister François Bayrou introduced a contentious plan aimed at slashing public spending by €43 billion, with healthcare being a primary target. The healthcare sector is set to see a direct budget reduction of €5 billion for 2026 as part of measures to rein in what Bayrou described as unsustainable growth in healthcare costs, projected to rise by €10 billion in the next fiscal year.
During his announcement, Bayrou highlighted France's national debt, which has escalated to over €3,300 billion, equating to 114% of the country's GDP, making the need for immediate financial reform critical. He warned that without substantial changes, interest payments on the national debt could reach €100 billion by 2029, surpassing the entire education budget.
Among the significant reforms proposed are increases to the medical franchise—from €50 to €100 per year—expected to raise out-of-pocket expenses among those using substantial medication. Furthermore, reforms in the management of long-term illnesses (ALD) aim to reduce the scope of reimbursable medications by excluding non-related treatments, a move that may affect the 20% of the French population currently classified under ALD, compared to just 5% in Germany.
In a bid to increase efficiency in the healthcare system, Bayrou called for the universal adoption of shared medical records to curtail unnecessary consultations and tests. He advocated for the application of artificial intelligence in patient management to enhance diagnostic accuracy and streamline operations within healthcare facilities.
Bayrou also tackled the growing issue of sick leave, noting that approximately 50% of long-term sick leave cases were unrighteous following financial reviews. His proposal allows general practitioners, instead of occupational health physicians, the authority to approve the return-to-work decisions for patients following lengthy absences, aimed at expediting the reintegration of workers.
These measures will be subject to parliamentary debate in the upcoming social security financing bill for 2026, reflecting an urgent need for reforms to maintain the viability of France's healthcare system in the face of increasing fiscal pressure.