As France’s 2026 Social Security Financing Bill intensifies unrest among private physician unions, a renewed debate over medical expatriation has captured national attention. While claims about mass departures surface regularly, verified data suggest a smaller but steadily growing phenomenon.
In May 2024, a member of the Union Française pour une Médecine Libre Syndiquée claimed that “5,000 doctors have left France,” though the figure lacked official verification. However, surveys and international data reveal a gradual trend driven by professional dissatisfaction.
A 2023 Medscape France survey of more than 800 doctors found that Switzerland and Canada were the preferred destinations for those considering relocation. The main reasons included difficult working conditions, low pay, and a rigid professional hierarchy.
According to the Foundation for Research on Public Administration and Public Policies, citing OECD figures, around 3,600 French-trained doctors were working abroad in 2015 — rising to 4,876 by 2020. While this represents just 2% of France’s total 228,000 doctors, experts say the rate of increase warrants attention.
The National Observatory of the Demography of Health Professions (ONDPS) characterized this as “limited compared with most other developed nations,” but acknowledged that changing regulations and attitudes toward mobility could fuel future growth.
Belgium currently hosts the largest proportion of expatriate French doctors, about 30% of the total. The United States follows with roughly 25%, while Canada, Israel, and Italy each account for about 14%.
A 2024 medical thesis by researcher Alexandra Gallucci shed light on the motivations behind this shift. Through interviews with 17 expatriate general practitioners, Gallucci identified diverse reasons — from family considerations to burnout and a desire for better work-life balance.
For many, expatriation was a way to reconcile professional ambition with personal well-being. Some wanted to raise children in safer environments; others sought escape from France’s burdensome bureaucracy and administrative overload.
Several respondents described the toll of excessive workloads, staff shortages, and the strain of an underfunded healthcare system. “We reached a point where our physical and mental health were at risk,” one doctor told Gallucci.
Financial concerns also played a role. Nine interviewees cited economic instability, noting that rising operational costs were unmatched by increases in consultation fees.
Yet, expatriation was not a perfect solution. Many doctors encountered similar challenges abroad, such as two-tiered systems and limited access to care. Still, most reported improved professional recognition and quality of life.
As France grapples with its healthcare crisis, experts warn that the growing trend of medical emigration — even if modest — could deepen regional inequalities in care. With new policy debates ahead, retaining skilled doctors may prove as vital as reforming the system itself.