Reminder: French medical analysis laboratories are on strike

A four-day strike by medical laboratory workers in France begins today (September 20), causing the majority of laboratoires d’analyses médicales across the country to close.

The closure of the sites, which carry out blood tests and urine samples as well as tests for illnesses such as Covid, will see a backlog of patients who could not obtain appointment slots between September 20 and 23. 

Closed laboratories will continue to give tests to hospitalised patients who require them during the strike period, but will not accept any external patients, including those referred by a GP.

People who are extremely unwell are recommended to call either 15 (the emergency healthcare number in France) or go to a hospital, as opposed to attempting to contact a medical laboratory.

Read more: 112, 15, 17: Do you know the emergency numbers to use in France?

A further strike may also take place in December, with similar disruptions, unions warn. 

What is the strike about?

Unions have called the strike over perceived funding cuts from state health institutions to the laboratories, which they say will force some to close as early as this December. 

They claim up to 10% of funding will be slashed in upcoming healthcare budgets, placing a strain on the sites.

Many laboratories will face staff shortages and be forced to reduce opening hours when the new budget comes into force, say unions.

The Caisse Nationale d'Assurance Maladie however says funding levels were already agreed in previous negotiations, which unions accepted. 

In addition, it claims the unions are exaggerating the level of proposed funding cuts.

However, there is currently no question of reimbursement rates for appointments at laboratories being changed for patients.

You can read more about the disagreements between the union and state health authorities in our original article on the subject here. 

Read more: French medical laboratories issue strike notice for September