Rural France grapples with a critical doctor shortage. Patrick Laine, a 66-year-old general practitioner, has witnessed this harsh reality up close. Nine months ago, he listed his Saulnot, Haute-Saône practice on Le Bon Coin—entirely free of charge.
This compelling offer remains unanswered. Dr. Laine is handing over his office, established patient base, and equipment, yet no one has stepped up to serve this village of 800 residents. “It’s beyond my understanding,” he shared with France Bleu. Eager to retire post-stroke, he logs 12-15 hours daily, six days a week. He attributes the lack of interest to the grueling schedule: “My generation didn’t shy from hard work, but today’s doctors may find 12-hour days intimidating. I even offered to split shifts between two practitioners—still no luck,” he regrets.
Dr. Laine isn’t alone; other GPs have turned to Le Bon Coin, while municipalities launch creative drives to recruit young doctors. The trend is alarming: since 2007, France’s general practitioner numbers have dropped 8.4%.
