Telehealth in France: Growth, Regulation, and the Fight Against Fraud
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France is rapidly expanding its telehealth infrastructure, but increased adoption is prompting greater scrutiny of practices ranging from sick leave certifications to platform accountability.
Teleconsultations have become a mainstay of French healthcare, with 14 million recorded in 2024 alone. This surge, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, is now accompanied by a wave of new regulations and oversight aimed at ensuring quality, preventing fraud, and maintaining patient trust. From limitations on remote sick leave to a crackdown on unapproved platforms, the landscape of French telehealth is undergoing a notable transformation.
The Continued Rise of Teleconsultations
The popularity of remote healthcare is undeniable. In 2024,approximately 40% of teleconsultations were conducted via dedicated platforms,while another 40% were facilitated by independent general practitioners. Independent specialists accounted for 15%, with health centers and independent midwives representing 3% and 2% respectively, according to data from French health insurance providers. Reimbursement policies,revised in 2022,remain largely unchanged.
Combating Fraudulent Sick Leave Certificates
One significant area of concern has been the proliferation of websites offering sick leave certificates for as little as €21, simply requiring completion of an online form. “the National Health Insurance Fund identified a significant number of unjustified compensation claims stemming from these fraudulent sites,” a senior official stated. To combat this, a new, secure Cerfa form became mandatory in July 2024, with older versions being rejected by health insurance providers as September. Despite these measures, authorities caution that not all fraudulent websites have been shut down, and vigilance remains crucial.
Platform Accountability and Approval
Concerns over quality and compliance have also led to increased scrutiny of telehealth platforms like Qare and Livi. In March 2024, health insurance implemented an approval procedure designed to “meet the needs of the population, improve the supervision of their offer and encourage its deployment within an ethical framework, consistent with existing care.”
As of October 2025,only seven platforms have received Ministry of Health approval:
- Medadom
- Tessan
- Quit
- medavize
- DoctorDirect
- livi
- Them care
these approved platforms are prioritized for patients seeking reliable and compliant telehealth services.
Expanding remote Monitoring Capabilities
Beyond traditional teleconsultations, France is witnessing a growing adoption of remote patient monitoring through the use of connected “gondolas” – frequently enough located in pharmacies. More than 3,500 of these units are now equipped with devices like thermometers, blood pressure monitors, stethoscopes, and dermascopes, enabling remote monitoring of vital signs.
This remote monitoring has been fully reimbursed as July 2022 for patients with conditions such as diabetes, renal failure, respiratory issues, cardiac failure, and those with cardiac prostheses.Since the summer of 2025,1,300 pharmacies have been equipped with dermascopes,allowing for remote skin lesion assessments by general practitioners or dermatologists.This advancement promises closer monitoring of perhaps cancerous moles, and also conditions like eczema, acne, and psoriasis. However, the French Society of dermatology has emphasized the need for careful supervision and integration within a broader territorial network of dermatologists.
The Rise of “Telecare”
Telehealth is extending beyond consultations with doctors to encompass a wider range of healthcare professionals. Known as “telecare,” this allows patients to consult with 18 different professions, including audioprosthetists, dietitians, occupational therapists, nurses, and speech therapists. In 2024, 281,320 telecare procedures were performed, with speech therapy (62%) and nursing (36%) accounting for the majority. While currently less prevalent than traditional teleconsultations, telecare is experiencing rapid growth and represents a significant expansion of accessible healthcare services.
The evolution of telehealth in France reflects a broader trend toward patient-centric, digitally-enabled healthcare. While challenges related to fraud and quality control remain, the continued expansion of these services promises to improve access to care and enhance the overall health and well-being of the French population.
