French doctors striking over 'authoritarian drift' in universal healthcare system

French doctors are striking over the Social Security Financing Act for 2026. According to Dr. Anna Boctor, Paediatrician and President of Jeunes Médecins, this signals an “authoritarian drift” in healthcare governance in a country long admired for its universal health care. Conditioning reimbursements on who prescribes care rather than why it is prescribed raises fundamental questions about medical autonomy, public health strategy, and democratic accountability.