France junior doctor deployment to medical deserts

To address medical shortages and improve healthcare access, France has initiated a program deploying approximately 3,000 junior doctors to underserved regions. These practitioners, who have defended their theses but remain under the supervision of master practitioners, are beginning one year of internships in medical offices and health centers.

Starting November 2, 2026, these junior doctors are working in medical offices, multi-professional health centers, and hospitals. They provide consultations and patient follow-ups three to four days a week under the supervision of a senior mentor. The initiative aims to reduce patient waiting times and encourage future practitioners to settle in rural or isolated urban areas where physician shortages are acute.

In the Charente-Maritime department, 18 junior doctors have begun practicing across 16 communes, including Saintes, Tonnay-Charente, and Saint-Georges-d’Oléron, as part of the “Terre d’accueil Jeunes Médecins” program. This collaboration involves the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region and the Regional Health Agency (ARS). Similarly, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, 193 junior doctors have joined training sites to strengthen medical services. These doctors, in their fourth and final year of general medicine training, perform consultations and lead prevention efforts under supervised autonomy.

In the Occitanie region, 241 fourth-year general medicine students are scheduled to join various health centers, with over 40% stationed in priority zones. The Ministry of Health reports that roughly 80% of these doctors are assigned to zones facing significant difficulties in accessing care. To encourage long-term settlement, the government provides monthly salaries of over 2,700 euros, supplemented by a 400 euro autonomy bonus and location-based bonuses of up to 1,000 euros in classified medical deserts.