French doctors begin 10-day strike over 'insufficient' social security budget

By Ilayda Cakirtekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - Community doctors and private clinics in France began a 10-day strike to protest what they describe as the “insufficient” 2026 Social Security budget, according to local media.

Denouncing the insufficiencies in the social security budget and voicing concerns over a potential challenge to their freedom to practice, the doctors' strike – backed by medical unions, coordinating bodies and medical students – is expected to last till Jan. 5.

"We know very well that when we go on strike, we put hospitals under strain” and “we place the population in a more uncomfortable situation, as with any strike action," Franck Devulder, president of the French Confederation of Medical Trade Unions (CSMF), told France Inter.

Devulder noted that the participation rate is "just over 85%."

Doctors in particular raise concerns over an insufficient budget in the face of growing needs, increased oversight of sick-leave prescriptions, and measures allowing authorities to “authoritatively” lower fees for certain medical acts by “bypassing” social dialogue, according to broadcaster BFMTV.