France maternity wards face crisis amid rising infant mortality

France currently ranks 23rd out of 27 European countries regarding infant mortality, reporting 4 deaths per 1,000 births. A report from the Inspection générale des affaires sociales (Igas) has issued approximately 20 recommendations to address this public health issue.

Professor Olivier Morel, Secretary General of the Collège national des gynécologues et obstétriciens français (CNGOF), has criticized the report for failing to adequately address the deficit of human resources. Morel stated that "the health system of French maternity wards is in total decay," noting that approximately 70% of maternity wards lack the minimum staffing required to ensure safe continuous care, a figure that rises to 90% for smaller facilities.

Challenges include a shortage of approximately 1,000 full-time obstetrician-gynecologists and outdated regulations. Currently, in maternity wards with fewer than 1,500 births, doctors are often on call but not physically present on-site, which can impede response times during major emergencies.