Health

Anti-obesity drug Wegovy: latest on availability and reimbursement in France

The drug has been available on prescription since October 2024

Widely prescribed mental health drugs out of stock in French pharmacies

French medical authorities have asked other countries for help tackling shortage

France wants to lower the age for breast cancer screening

The current age threshold is 50, but 5,000 women under 40 are diagnosed each year

practical

French health authority issues pneumococcal vaccine recommendation for over 65s

Four seasonal vaccines are now recommended for this age group

Covid-19 tests are still reimbursed in France - but not for long

Reimbursement for most will stop after the epidemic season, but some have criticised the move

Health insurance in France: See average mutuelle cost for retirees after new rises

Prices have been rising steadily for several years with older people hardest hit

Faster health check for Britons moving to France

Senior Ofii official explains immigration medical checks can now be completed by a GP to reduce post-Brexit waiting times

How to save money on mutuelle cover in France

The cost of top-up health insurance is set to rise further in 2025

Flu: French health authorities extend vaccination campaign as cases soar

Vulnerable groups are being urged to get vaccinated as three forms of virus circulate

Are pharmacies in France closed on Sundays? What if I need medicine urgently?

Stocking up on medicines before the weekend is a good idea

Patients in France unaware of GP’s ban were not reimbursed for care

The GP continued to receive and treat patients despite being suspended

Explained: France’s ‘power of attorney’ equivalent

France's mandat de protection future allows a named person to make decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so

Tap water contamination: Is your French region highlighted in new report?

Dordogne was the worst-affected department in the ‘major health scandal’, the analysis said

People in France can have 12 mental health support sessions per year reimbursed

Referrals by a doctor are no longer required

Minister issues warning as flu cases set to peak in France

Face masks are recommended for those with symptoms and vulnerable groups are advised to get vaccinated

Why your carte Vitale health card may have stopped working in France

We look at possible reasons and solutions if you have difficulties this January

First case of new Mpox variant recorded in France

Vaccines are available to some groups against the disease

We took up sea-wading in France and found it great for health and making friends

Couple discover the benefits of wading since moving from the UK to the French coastal town of Soulac-sur-Mer

Doctors in France to receive €1,000 bonus for prescribing fewer drugs

One-third of doctors are already eligible for the bonus as they prescribe less medicine than the national average

Flu epidemic continues in France, under-15s and over-65s most affected

The entire country is still on ‘red alert’ for flu, but bronchiolitis is dropping

Why do more people in France die on January 3 than any other day?

Mortality from all causes peaks today, with one expert suggesting reasons behind the risk

People in France living longer in good health - and for longer than in UK and US

New official data also shows a rise in the number of years of good health before disability begins to affect quality of life

How much do doctors earn in France?

Self-employed doctors are the highest paid of all ‘liberal’ professions in the country

Change to printed information leaflets for several medicines used in France

QR codes will allow details to be updated and include videos of how to take medicine

New rules aim to ease lack of dentists in many rural parts of France

Practices opening in areas with an existing high number of dentists will not receive state reimbursement

Eating Camembert improves memory (at least in mice), new report says

The research study focused on chemicals created in the cheese’s fermentation process

Healthcare: What's new in France in 2025

Certain specialist tariffs will rise in July 2025, impacting insurance premiums and healthcare access

State of French healthcare: key points of new official report

Findings included high patient satisfaction but still a too-high risk of infection in hospitals

French top-up insurance to increase by 6% in 2025

Ageing population and reduced state coverage cited as some of reasons behind hike

Is there financial help to purchase a mobility scooter in France?

Some UK disability benefits remain for Britons living across the Channel

Must I telephone first before going to hospital emergency centre in France?

The health ministry wants to reduce the strain on hospital services

Epidemic alerts raised in France: see how your area is affected

Bronchiolitis is bad nationwide while flu indicators are increasing in the north and east

GPs and specialists: List of new fees starting December 2024 in France

Fees will rise for consultations, firstly later this month, and again in July 2025

French firm succeeds in drone defibrillators deliveries

Life-saving equipment can reach victims within minutes, faster than ambulances

Is long-term illness care in France poised to change?

Long-term care costs make up around two-thirds of social security spending

Weight loss drug Wegovy may soon be reimbursed in France

Subject to Health Ministry approval the drug could be reimbursed under certain conditions

Is appointment information automatically added to online French health space?

Documents can be found online for healthcare professionals and patients to see

‘Medicines to avoid in 2025’ list published by French medical review

Of 106 medicines, 88 are still available to buy in France

Hospital transport change: French taxi driver protests cause 490km of traffic jams

Blockades are underway as drivers fear redundancies and bankruptcies

French MPs propose quotas for public toilets in towns

‘This is a public health issue for people with illnesses such as Crohn's or diabetes, for the elderly and for children’

What is changing for daily life in France this December?

A rise in fees for doctor consultations is a key change. There is also the opening of a new stretch of toll-barrier free - but paying - motorway

New date set for stricter painkiller prescription rules in France

Introduction of ‘secure prescriptions’ for tramadol and codeine delayed after some pharmacists said they were not ready

How medical assistants are helping in areas that lack doctors in France

Role is intended to help free up GP time so they can treat more patients

French senate votes for increase in taxes on tobacco, gambling and soda

A packet of cigarettes will cost on average €12.70 next year if propositions are included in final budget

Fact check: Does France offer world’s most generous health reimbursement?

It comes after a government spokesperson made the claim this week

Why do some French GPs charge more than others?

The price of a consultation is rising in December - but some already bill patients at €30 instead of €26.50

French health minister proposes lower reimbursement of medicine

Patients (or their top-up insurance) will need to pay more if the proposal goes ahead

Checks and safety laws explained after death in France from carbon monoxide

It kills around 100 and affects 3,000 people every year in France

Covid-19: What is latest situation in France ahead of Christmas?

Santé Publique France revealed new figures in its latest update

Dozens fall ill in French train station as man pours toxic liquid on floor

The man spilled the liquid and then ‘calmly boarded a train’, police say

Marathon effort boosts cancer support in France

Runners join Nice-Cannes Marathon to fund English-language cancer support services in Alpes-Maritimes

Child health booklets in France will be updated to include risks of screen time

Report by experts recommends banning screens for children under the age of three

Many French hospitals trial fingertip test for heart disease

Test takes 15 minutes and can detect early signs of the disease

French study tests psychedelics in alcoholism therapy

A groundbreaking experiment explores how psilocybin can be used to combat depressive symptoms in alcohol recovery

Strepsils, Olbas Oil, TCP: Find French equivalents to common remedies

Moving to France means navigating pharmacies and hunting down alternatives to treat everyday ailments

French carmarker provides solution for noisy roads

Engineers utilise vehicle noise-cancelling data to identify road noise and reduce environmental impact

Moving to France: how does a retiree apply for a health card?

The card is linked to your social security number, which you must apply for first

EU citizens have difficulty obtaining French digital health cards

The paperwork required to sign up for the service is available to residency card holders and French citizens but not to other EU residents of France

Alert over mushroom picking in France after death and poisonings

Several poisonous mushrooms can easily be mistaken for safe varieties, experts warn

France steps up HPV vaccination campaign in schools

Health authority aims for 80% vaccination rate among children by 2030 to combat HPV-related cancers

French hospitals’ revolutionary exoskeleton enables wheelchair-bound patients to walk

The technology improves their health and independence - and may soon be available for use in homes

Tiger mosquitoes are still biting in France in November - wlll it end soon?

The insect can spread disease and is found in many areas of the country

Photos: Hi-tech medical concept van to serve rural France unveiled

New vehicle aims to provide medical services in areas lacking doctors, equipped with advanced diagnostic tools

Why some cancer rates are rising more in women than men in France

Recent studies show a spike in lung and pancreatic cancers, attributed to smoking and lifestyle choices

Why have thousands of hospital beds closed in France?

A new report shows that the number of full hospitalisation beds has dropped by more than 10% in 10 years

Concern over Mercury levels in canned tuna sold in France

Organisations are calling on limits to be much stricter. French brand ‘Petit Navire’ had mercury levels 13 times higher than fresh fish limits

Are foreign nursing qualifications recognised in France?

Brexit changed rules for Britons relocating to France

Tiger mosquitoes continue to spread at abnormally high levels in France

Mild autumn temperatures have enabled the insects to proliferate, amid record dengue cases

Impact on appointments: French hospital staff are on strike today

Four major unions call for strike in response to 2025 budget

How do I ask for free French flu voucher if I did not receive one?

The 2024/2025 vaccination season has begun

American patient story causing organ donations to plummet in France

The story of a brain dead man waking up on the operating table is causing refusal rates to soar

Record dengue cases recorded in France - how to prevent the spread

Health authorities have warned that cases of native and imported dengue are at record levels

GRAPH: Variation in flu vaccination rates in France in last 16 years

Figures have fallen for three successive years, including for over 65s

French researchers give new hope in treating eating disorders

A groundbreaking theory links neurotransmitter deficits to compulsive behaviours, potentially revolutionising treatment

Why is there such a row in France over who owns Doliprane?

News of a potential sale of the manufacturer has reignited debates over drug shortages and ‘drug sovereignty’