French Liberal Doctors End Ten-Day Strike but Face Calls for Unlimited Guard Strike amid Government Deadlock

Liberal (private practice) doctors in France concluded a ten-day strike that began on January 5, 2026, protesting against the newly adopted national health insurance budget. This strike involved the closure of operating theaters and emergency services in some clinics, underscoring the doctors' frustration with the government's "deafening silence" regarding their demands. However, the discontent remains unresolved as a coalition of medical unions, known as Le Bloc, has called for an unlimited strike of evening and weekend on-call duties, amplifying pressure on the government amid stalled negotiations.

Approximately 1,500 doctors participated in a symbolic exile to Brussels, highlighting their critical importance within the French healthcare system and warning of the detrimental effects of a mass exodus of medical practitioners abroad. Despite this mobilization, health minister expressed openness to dialogue, yet the unions firmly reject negotiating until Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu offers concrete solutions.

Economic analyst Brigitte Dormont explained that the doctors’ anger stems from longstanding systemic contradictions within the French health insurance structure. The ongoing strike reflects deep-rooted issues around the constraints imposed on practitioners and the solidarity expected within the healthcare system, which doctors argue is ineffective without fair obligations placed on them as well.

The initial strike, which was set to conclude January 15, has evolved into intensified protest actions, including the call for an unlimited guard strike. This escalation demonstrates the mounting tensions between liberal doctors and governmental authorities over healthcare funding and working conditions in France. The situation remains fluid, with doctors demanding substantive government engagement to avoid further deterioration of healthcare access in the country.