General practitioners in France work an average of 46 hours per week, according to a study published on Wednesday by Drees, the statistical agency of the Ministry of Health.
The study, based on data collected in 2025, reveals that doctors spend 36 hours and 30 minutes each week conducting in-person consultations, teleconsultations, or home visits. Practice administration and coordination with other healthcare professionals account for six hours, while two hours and 30 minutes are dedicated to updating medical knowledge.
Drees, formally known as the Directorate for Research, Studies, Evaluation and Statistics, serves as the statistical authority attached to France's Ministry of Health. General practitioners function as primary care doctors within the French healthcare system, handling routine care and specialist referrals.
Work schedules vary significantly by age and gender across a physician's career. General practitioners under 45 years old average 43 hours per week, whereas those over 45 work an average of 48 hours and 30 minutes.
Female general practitioners log an average of 44 hours per week, compared to 48 hours and 30 minutes for male doctors.
Consultation duration and patient care
In-office patient consultations last an average of 19 minutes, according to the Drees study. Home visits average 40 minutes per patient, while remote teleconsultations average 14 minutes.
The duration of a visit depends on the reason for the consultation. Older general practitioners spend slightly more time per patient than younger colleagues, and female doctors spend slightly longer with patients than male doctors.
French general practitioners perform an average of 4,800 consultations, home visits, or teleconsultations per year. Nearly three-quarters of all general practitioners continue to perform home visits, while one-third conduct teleconsultations.
Related healthcare reports and public debate
The study was reported on Wednesday morning by journalist Cyril Brioulet for news outlet La Dépêche du Midi. Related health reports highlighted cases including an order for roughly 60 healthcare professionals to repay nearly 80,000 euros each in bonuses paid over several years, described as unacceptable.
Other recent medical cases noted by the publication included a patient diagnosed with incurable brain cancer after his wife urged him to consult a doctor for a headache persisting for 10 days, and a 54-year-old agricultural worker who survived a workplace cardiac arrest thanks to immediate CPR by colleagues.
The publication of the study prompted 26 public comments from readers on the platform. Comments reflected debates over consultation lengths, weekend coverage, home visit availability, and physician earnings in primary care.
