Khaberni - The Social Affairs Committee of the French National Assembly (Parliament) recognized a new item in the Social Security budget project for 2026 on Friday, which stipulates setting a duration for sick leaves for the first time.
The French newspaper "Liberation" reported that the Social Security budget in France, after these leaves had no clear time limit, will be restricted from next year to fifteen days if issued by a doctor in outpatient clinics, and thirty days if issued inside hospitals, with the possibility of extension by medical decision.
According to the text of the project, this duration will be determined by a government decree, and any subsequent extensions will be granted for a maximum of two months, with doctors required to clarify the reasons for the sick leave "for auditing purposes by the health insurance."
Limited exceptions
The law also allows doctors to exceed the announced cap "according to the patient's health condition," provided that the medical justifications are clearly stated in the report.
This measure comes at a time when experts indicate that the Social Security budget for the next year could be "harsher" on the healthcare system and its beneficiaries.
The French newspaper clarified that to date, there is no official determination of the maximum duration of sick leaves, despite the existence of medical recommendations for some diseases. Conversely, patients are subject to a compensation cap that does not exceed 360 days within three years.
However, the vote within the committee remains a preliminary step, as deputies are required to finalize their approval next week in the plenary session.
Cost increase
The government justified this approach by the rising cost of daily compensations for beneficiaries, a bill that has seen continuous increases in recent years, partly linked to increased wage rates due to inflation.
Republican deputy Thibaut Bazin, the general rapporteur for the project, considered that this measure would allow "better regular monitoring of patients and reassessment of their health conditions at an appropriate pace."
However, the step raised objections within the committee, as deputy Ségolène Amiot from the "Brave France" party asked: "Who are we to intrude on the relationship between the doctor and the patient?", considering that reducing the duration of the first leave could cause confusion for entities trying to provide an alternative for the sick employee.
Green Party deputy Hendrik Davi considered that the measure is based on a false premise, namely that "an increase in sick leaves means an increase in fraud."
Similarly, deputies approved an amendment that prevents the renewal of sick leaves via telemedicine, except in exceptional cases where it is proven impossible to conduct a traditional consultation.
The committee also discussed the issue of mandatory medical examination to return to work after maternity leave, a measure that is currently in effect, although the government is seeking to make it optional due to a significant shortage of occupational medicine doctors, which independent deputy Paul-André Colombani considered "an attempt to manage the crisis instead of solving it." The proposal was rejected within the committee, to be revisited during discussions in the general session before referring the text to the Senate.
