It is a cost-saving measure in the face of 18 billion euros in annual costs that doctors are warning about, pointing instead to a failing corporate management.
Sick Leave: Prescriptions Limited to One Month Starting September 2026
It’s a small revolution for sick workers: in line with a decree published in the Official Journal on June 13, 2026, from September 1, 2026, doctors, midwives and dentists will no longer be able to prescribe sick leave beyond one month on first prescription and two months in case of prolongation. A change for professionals who until now were free to set the duration of sick leave according to their diagnosis.
Until now, only recommendations by pathology guided practitioners, with no binding value. The new regulatory framework imposes strict caps: 31 days maximum for an initial prescription, 62 days for a renewal.
18 Billion Euros: The Cost Surge Worries the Administration
The administration justifies these restrictions by alarming budget drift. Jean-Pierre Farandou, Minister of Labor and Solidarity, quantifies the issue: sick leave costs amount to 18 billion euros for France’s social security system, “with an increase of one billion euros per year.” A rise that threatens the financial equilibrium of France’s social security in a context of chronic deficits.
The initial plan, however, proved more draconian. The government had envisioned a limit of fifteen days for private-practice physicians, with thirty days reserved for hospital settings. Parliamentary intervention helped standardize this allowance for all professionals authorized to issue sick leave.
The figures confirm the persistence of the phenomenon. A Malakoff Humanis survey shows that absenteeism in the private sector has remained high since the health crisis. This trend is accompanied by a shift in the nature of leaves, with mental health issues on the rise. Sick leaves tied to mental health now account for a growing share of prescriptions.
Serious Illnesses: Exceptions Preserved
Nevertheless, the scheme preserves significant exemptions. Patients requiring extended leaves for serious illnesses escape these time limits. A flexibility aimed at preserving the quality of care while controlling spending for routine cases. Health professionals will now have to balance national budget constraints with individual patient needs, in a context where workplace mental health concerns are gaining prominence.
The application of this decree starting September 2026 will be a real-world test. Between budgetary imperatives and quality of working life, the balance remains to be defined to reconcile employees’ health with the viability of France’s social protection system.
