In 2017 there were 399,865 hospital beds in total in France, compared to 468,418 in 2003. According to the World Bank, France had 6.5 hospital beds per 1,000 people in 2013. The French system means that instead of being given a lump sum annual budget by the government, hospitals charge patients for the procedure and the government then reimburses the patient. Mental health problems like depression and burnout are common among medical staff, and the suicide rate is 2.5 times higher than in other professions. According to a 2017 study, as many as a quarter of French medical staff have struggled with suicidal thoughts.

Source: The Local November 20, 2019 11:15 UTC