Overview

The French health system combines a social health insurance system with a national health system approach. It provides universal pop­ulation coverage and a generous benefits package.

Cost sharing is required for all essential services so the majority of the population take outprivate complementary insurance to reduce out-of-pocket payments. The Ministry of Health (MoH) undertakes the main stewardship role and has substantial control over the health system, although at the regional level, regional health authorities have public health and health care planning and financing responsibilities within their remit. Current health expenditure per capita in France (US$ PPP 5740) in 2020 exceeded the EU average, representing 12.2% of GDP. Public expenditure on health was 79% of total health expenditure in 2020, also above the EU average for that year (75%).

Recent reforms in France have focused on four main areas: improving financial access to care to avoid forgone care; improving physical access to care, particularly in under­served areas; strengthening prevention; and reforming payment methods for providers, particularly in the hospital sector. Persisting challenges include ensuring the sustainability of the health workforce, particularly to secure adequate numbers of health professionals in medically underserved areas (rural and less affluent com­munities), and improving working conditions, remu­neration and career prospects, especially for nurses, to support retention.