France opens 10,260 medical intern positions for 2026

The French Ministry of Health announced that 10,260 medical intern posts will be available for the 2026 promotion, a 15 % increase from the 8,919 positions offered in the previous year. The expansion adds 1,341 places and is presented as a concrete effect of the 2019 abolition of the numerus clausus, aimed at training more physicians to meet population needs. The boost targets specialties under pressure, with notable gains in dermatology (+25 %), paediatrics (+20.3 %), obstetrics‑gynecology (+20.1 %), emergency medicine (+19.8 %) and others. Primary care receives the largest share, with 4,070 slots (40 % of the total). The ministry highlighted regional priorities, increasing intern numbers by 18 % in Centre‑Val de Loire, 15.7 % in Nouvelle‑Aquitaine and 14.7 % in Hauts‑de‑France, where access to care has been challenging. Interns, who constitute about 40 % of hospital medical staff, are expected to alleviate workload and improve service delivery across French hospitals.