Rising Fuel Prices Force French Liberal Nurses to Adapt Amid Government Inaction

Liberal nurses in France face mounting challenges as soaring fuel prices push them to reorganize work routines and demand government intervention. Emmanuelle, a nurse in Gironde, has begun grouping patients by area to reduce travel, saving 32 kilometers daily and cutting fuel use drastically. She is even prepared to forgo her lunch break to avoid extra trips home, underscoring how directly rising fuel costs impact healthcare workers who rely on personal vehicles for home care.

Diesel prices hover above 2 euros per liter, with diesel at 2.089 €/L and gasoline (SP95 E10 and SP98 E5) nearing or exceeding 2 euros, an increase of approximately 30 cents per liter compared to previous averages. Emmanuelle calculates these surging costs have added about 40 euros monthly to her expenses. Hervé, an auditor, highlights the strain by revealing he now spends around 1,300 euros monthly on fuel.

The National Federation of Nurses called on March 13 for partial reimbursement to liberal nurses covering hundreds of kilometers weekly amidst this crisis. The National Union of Liberal Nurses and the collective of angry liberal nurses have repeatedly urged authorities to consider lowering fuel taxes, a move that Gaëlle Cannat, president of the collective, insists is crucial for maintaining patient care standards.

Internationally, the fuel price surge is linked to the ongoing Iran war, which has disrupted global energy markets significantly. Brent crude oil prices recently hit $112.19 per barrel, with concerns they could surpass $140, potentially triggering a mild global recession. Meanwhile, European countries adopt diverging responses: Spain has cut gasoline VAT from 21% to 5% and provided targeted subsidies, and Italy temporarily reduced fuel prices by 25 cents per liter for a limited period. In contrast, France has maintained a status quo approach with no announcements of relief measures.

This inaction contrasts with increasingly urgent calls from front-line healthcare workers grappling with the dual pressures of rising fuel costs and the imperative to deliver care efficiently. Without governmental support, liberal nurses like Emmanuelle risk further strain and operational compromises in their essential healthcare roles.