France Healthcare System Guide

Dial: 15 or 112

Typical response time: 10-20 minutes in cities, 30-60+ minutes in rural areas

Costs: Public ER: €20-50 (triage fee). Ambulance: €100-300+. Hospitalisation: €500-2,000+/day without insurance.

Call SAMU (15) for medical emergencies or 112 (EU-wide). Pompiers (18) also respond to medical emergencies. ER waits: officially 141 minutes average but real-world waits of 4-8+ hours are common in major city hospitals, particularly in Paris and Lyon.

Médecin traitant (declared GP) for best reimbursement. Direct access possible but at higher cost.

Typical wait: Same-day to 1 week in cities. 2-6 weeks in rural "déserts médicaux". Specialists: 1-3 months.

Typical cost: €26.50 standard (70% reimbursed). Sector 2 doctors: €40-100+.

Good in Paris and major cities. Severe shortages in rural and suburban areas — many GPs refuse new patients. Use Doctolib app to find available slots.

Recommended: Routine vaccines (MMR, DTP, Polio, Flu), COVID-19, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Measles (MMR booster), Tick-borne Encephalitis (for rural/forested areas)

No mandatory entry vaccines. Leishmaniasis (sand flies in southern France) and seasonal flu are risks. Rabies pre-exposure recommended for extended rural stays. Measles outbreaks have occurred — ensure MMR is up to date.

Insurance required for visa: yes

Public coverage for visitors: limited

Long-stay visa (VLS-TS) required for stays over 90 days. PUMA healthcare coverage after 3 months of stable residency. OFII medical visit mandatory within 3 months of arrival for long-stay visa holders.

Private GP visit: €26.50 (Sector 1, 70% reimbursed) to €60-120+ (Sector 2, minimal reimbursement)

Emergency care without insurance: ER visit: €100-500+. Ambulance: €100-300. Hospital stay: €500-2,000+/day. You will be treated — billed afterwards.

Medication: Medications classified by medical importance: vital (100% covered), important (65%), moderate (30%), low (15%). Without insurance, expect to pay full pharmacy prices.

Hours: Mon–Sat 9am–7pm typical. Pharmacie de garde (duty pharmacy) operates nights, weekends, and holidays on rotation — check local listings or call 3237.

Over the counter: Pharmacists are highly trained and the first point of contact for minor ailments. Paracetamol, ibuprofen, and many common drugs available OTC. Some antibiotics available without prescription in practice.

Controlled substances: Controlled substances (e.g., codeine, benzodiazepines, ADHD medication) require a French prescription. Travellers must carry a Schengen certificate for personal supplies of narcotics or psychotropics — obtainable from your home country authority.

• You must declare a médecin traitant (GP) for full reimbursement — without one, you pay 70% more out-of-pocket
• "Déserts médicaux" (medical deserts) — in many rural and suburban areas, no GP is accepting new patients
• You pay upfront for all consultations and wait 2-4 weeks for partial reimbursement via Ameli
• ER waits: officially 141 minutes average nationally, but real-world waits of 4-8+ hours are common in major city hospitals — among the longest in Western Europe
• Most French have mutuelle (top-up insurance) — without it, the 30% co-payment adds up fast
• SOS Médecins house calls cost €50-75 and are the best option for urgent non-emergency care outside office hours

• Download Doctolib — the essential app for booking GP and specialist appointments in France
• Call SOS Médecins for urgent house calls evenings, weekends, and holidays
• Pharmacies (green cross sign) can assess minor issues and recommend treatment — visit them first
• EU/EEA citizens: bring your EHIC/GHIC card for public healthcare access
• Keep all receipts (feuille de soins) for insurance reimbursement claims
• Call 3237 to find the nearest pharmacie de garde (duty pharmacy) at night or on weekends