Resources for Staying Safe and Informed

You can either call the office secretary, or for a large number of doctors, laboratories and specialists, you may book medical appointments directly online through Doctolib - https://www.doctolib.fr/ 

To note, there are different categories for prices for medical services - ‘conventionné’ indicates the fee is fixed by the social security, ‘non conventionné’ means the fees are set by the doctor, so this, in many cases, can be much higher.  

Your coverage or reimbursement of medical costs may be in part, or all, covered by French social security (CPAM - carte vitale), your top-up insurance (mutuelle) or a third party insurance provider. Save all of your medical documents and feuilles de soins to submit to your healthcare insurance.

You may consult a list of English speaking medical professionals collated by members of our community and ISP nursing staff here.  To note, ISP does not formally endorse any particular medical professional on this list or otherwise, and you will want to make your own choices as to your family health needs.  

You can also search for English-speaking professionals through the Doctolib site by filtering your search results for ‘langues parlées’, then select English.

Doctolib has a search filter that allows you to search for available appointments the same day, or within 3 days.  Your general practitioner may also be able to squeeze you in for an urgent appointment if you call the secretary and explain your situation.

There is a 24-hour visiting doctor appointment possibility through the SOS Medecins service to come to your home - you can call 3624 or 01 47 07 77 77  to check availability and book directly (operators speak English) - https://www.sosmedecins.fr/en/

Please dial ‘15’ - SAMU - they have medical professionals on the line who can help orientate your call and situation (English speaking available), including ambulance and hospital transport, if necessary.

• NB - Dialing the ‘112’ (European emergency health care number) will direct you to the ‘15’ here in France.

For all urgent care (perilous accident or situation requiring urgent arrival) please call ‘18’ - Fire Brigade (‘Sapeurs Pompiers’).  They also deal with medical emergencies and should be the first port of call in life-threatening situations.  Unlike the ‘15’, which can be called for advice, this number should only be used in emergency situations.

For dental emergencies on Sunday, there is an area dentist on call - if you do not know, you can call the police station ‘17’ or SAMU ‘15’ to find out this information.

Summary information here - https://www.gouvernement.fr/en/the-numbers-to-know-in-an-emergency-0

France has numerous options for COVID testing and these include:

• Antigenic PCR tests - available in most pharmacies without appointment. Results in 15 minutes.

• PCR laboratory tests - available in numerous laboratoires, many of which can be booked online through Doctolib (search for ‘Laboratoire de biologie médicale’). You can then filter by the type of test needed (dépistage PCR or dépistage antigénique).

• COVID self tests - for sale in many pharmacies. These are not to be used in the event you have any symptoms or are a contact case.  In the event the test is positive you need to have a laboratory PCR or antigenic test to confirm and should isolate yourself immediately pending results.

For young children, some laboratories will use a saliva test instead of the nasal test. You can call the lab to ask about this availability

COVID tests do not require a prescription and are currently free of charge for French residents who have a healthcare card (Carte Vitale).  This will change in mid-October 2021, when PCR lab tests will be free only when accompanied with a doctor prescription or for certain cases (e.g. when someone is a close contact case).

Since 7 July 2021, tourists in France are charged :

• €44 for PCR tests;

• €25 for the rapid result antigen test; 

In all cases, the cost for a test is capped as follows:

• €54 for PCR tests;

• €38 for the rapid result antigen test; 

• €6 for home-testing kits

As of June 2021, all children 12 years old and older and all adults may be vaccinated. France offers Pfizer, Moderna, Janssen and AstraZeneca (for 55 years old and over).  

You can book an appointment in Doctolib (free with French health card). You do not have to book an appointment in the arrondissement where you live and can also search based on second dose only, or single dose (for those who have laboratory confirmation of a positive COVID result).

The pass sanitaire is France's health pass.  It is a means to prove your COVID-19 status and is not a separate, physical document.  Since July 2021, the French pass sanitaire is conform to EU requirements for travel within the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland.  It is destined for children (as of age 12 years old) and all adults.

It can be achieved with any of the following:

• A Covid-19 test (rapid antigen or PCR) showing a negative result and taken within the past 72 hours 

• A Covid-19 vaccination certificate showing full vaccination

• A Covid-19 test (rapid antigen or PCR) showing a positive Covid-19 result, taken between 11 days and six months prior

These documents can be shown in paper format, digitally, or through the phone application TousAntiCovid (download available on Google Play or Apple).

Beginning in June 2021, the pass sanitaire has been required at events with more than 1000 persons.  In July and August, and in accordance with the announcements made by President Macron on July 12th, the health pass will be required more widely in situations such as the following:

As of July 21st - Required in all leisure/cultural spaces with 50 persons or more (12 - 17 year olds only required as of 30 September).

As of August 2021 - Required in all cafés, restaurants, commercial shopping centers (>20 000 m2), hospitals, nursing homes, medical establishments, and for all travel by plane, train and bus (long distance).

For up-to-date information, please see the government websites below:

French (updated 'real time') - https://www.gouvernement.fr/info-coronavirus

Simplified French - https://www.gouvernement.fr/info-coronavirus/francais-simplifie-falc

English - https://www.gouvernement.fr/en/coronavirus-covid-19

If you have been vaccinated in the EU, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, Switzerland, UK (England and Wales only), you already have an EU Digital Covid Certificate, which is accepted in France (you do not need a separate COVID certificate).

If you have been vaccinated outside these geographic areas with a vaccine that is accepted by the European Medicines Agency, you can apply for a COVID certificate by sending in the required documentation and filling out the application form.

Separate email addresses are in place to receive your application, depending on your place of residence and if you are a French national.

All information can be found in English on the France Diplomacy website here - 

• For tourists vaccinated abroad - LINK HERE
• For French nationals and their dependents vaccinated abroad - LINK HERE