The mayor of Nice challenges the government on the consequences of the Social Security Financing Bill (PLFSS) for 2026. Article 26 of the text provides for an increase in social contributions on doctors’ excess fees. A measure that is provoking the anger of practitioners and the threat of a nationwide strike in January.
As discussions around the Social Security Financing Bill continue in the National Assembly, tensions are rising in the medical world. Article 26 of the text, reviewed at the end of the week, would allow the government to increase by decree a contribution paid by doctors on their fee supplements, currently set at 3.25%.
This provision has caused an immediate reaction from liberal specialists. They are announcing a strike from January 11 to 14, 2026. The movement, called “Operation Brussels,” could involve nearly 20,000 practitioners across France, including about a thousand in the Alpes-Maritimes. Some doctors are even discussing the possibility of moving to Belgium.
In this context of high tension, Christian Estrosi, mayor of Nice and president of the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis, has decided to challenge the government. For him, this measure would exacerbate the difficulties already faced by doctors and could worsen inequalities in healthcare access.
Doctors denounce growing pressure
For several months, primary health insurance funds have been urging doctors who have signed the Controlled Tariff Option (OPTAM) to renew their commitments. These amendments set their fee overrun targets for 2026. But the pressure from these negotiations seems to weigh heavily on the profession. According to unions, one in two doctors is considering leaving the system.
For Christian Estrosi, this situation reflects a deeper unease: “Our practitioners are asking for fairer compensation. France is already poorly ranked in Europe in terms of act remuneration, and this new reform would only further deepen social health inequalities and lead to more and more complete opt-outs and even doctors leaving our health system entirely.”
The mayor of Nice also highlights the consequences for patients. “That 50% of citizens would have to pay nearly 600 euros for a hip prosthesis or necessary surgeries for their health is unacceptable. Health cannot be sacrificed to such an extent in this bill, which ultimately penalizes patients who end up paying fee overruns and constant increases imposed by mutual insurance companies.”
Facing this crisis, Christian Estrosi calls for collective awareness: “Efforts must be shared by all stakeholders in the health system. I hope practitioners are heard in their demands, and that our parliamentarians in charge of the Social Security financing bill understand their distress.”
A tense budget debate
This protest arises while the Social Security Financing Bill (PLFSS) for 2026 is already crystallizing many disagreements in the National Assembly. On Wednesday, November 5, deputies massively opposed the freezing of the general social contribution (CSG) scale proposed by the government.
The freeze on the scale would have resulted in an automatic increase in deductions on salaries, pensions, and capital income. A measure rejected by the left, the National Rally, and The Republicans, who denounce increased fiscal pressure on households.
The government, however, defends the necessity of a “collective effort” to reduce the Social Security deficit. Health Minister Stéphanie Rist recalled that the goal was to bring the deficit down to 17.5 billion euros in 2026, from 23 billion this year. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and Public Accounts Minister Amélie de Montchalin express their intent to seek compromises. “We will be very open to supporting fair, proportionate, and effective measures,” declared the latter.
In the Senate, the general rapporteur Jean-François Husson promised to go “as far as possible” in seeking savings, while calling for “justice in the effort”. Meanwhile, the National Rally calls for the creation of an investigative commission on the internal management of Social Security.
These debates show how much the Social Security budget remains a sensitive political issue. Between budgetary constraints and professional demands, finding a balance seems difficult. The coming weeks are likely to be decisive for the government, faced with both the dissatisfaction of medical staff and parliamentary opposition.
With two months until the announced strike, tension remains high. Practitioners claim to defend the survival of their liberal model. Local elected officials, like Christian Estrosi, echo their concerns. The government is relying on dialogue. But in an already tense economic and social context, reaching a compromise appears challenging.
