Results of the FHP-VIAVOICE Opinion Survey
“The Future of Healthcare in Local Communities –A Dual Survey of the French Public and Mayors”
Paris – June 30, 2026
The Federation of Private Hospitals (FHP), in collaboration with the Viavoice Institute, conducted a dual opinion survey—one among the French public and one among mayors—on the future of healthcare in local communities and perceptions of the role of private hospitals. The results reveal a convergence of views on many issues.
Regarding the survey of the French public, 6 out of 10 people report having significant personal healthcare needs where they live. Healthcare issues are playing an increasingly important role in daily life, driven by profound trends such as an aging population and a rise in chronic diseases… Expectations naturally focus on the local level, where needs arise and where difficulties in accessing care become most apparent.
Trust in healthcare facilities remains high: 82% for private clinics and hospitals, and 77% for public hospitals. Seventy percent of French people believe that private hospitals effectively meet their local healthcare needs (67% for public hospitals). In a healthcare system perceived to be under strain, this institutional trust coexists with very concrete expectations regarding the organization of care; there is no call for a “revolution” in the healthcare system, but rather strong expectations for efficiency and for collective, coordinated solutions in its day-to-day operations: easier access to healthcare professionals, shorter wait times, and better coordination among local healthcare providers.
For 84% of French people, the complementary nature of public hospitals and private clinics is essential to improving access to care. The contribution of private hospitalization to the quality of care (71%) and access to care (69%) is widely recognized. Citizens are calling for a pragmatic approach to cooperation that mobilizes all available resources to meet their needs.
The outlook for the future is more grim: 61% of French people say they are pessimistic about future improvements in care, which contrasts with the trust placed in healthcare providers and reveals doubts about the system’s sustainability and its ability to meet growing healthcare needs over the long term.
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The survey of mayors confirms the prominence of health: it ranks among the top issues raised by residents (52%), alongside housing and safety. This hierarchy of concerns reflects the growing local relevance of health issues. However, only a slim majority of French people believe that their mayor has the will (56%) and the resources (54%) needed to take action on health issues, which reflects doubts about the actual capacity of local governments to provide concrete solutions: once again, it is the very sustainability of the model that is being called into question. An important finding: 78% of French people want their mayor to have more responsibilities and resources in the area of health.
The challenges identified by mayors align with the expectations expressed by the French public and highlight a widely shared view of the healthcare system: long wait times for appointments (79%), difficulty accessing a doctor (66%), forgoing care, and care for the elderly. The cross-sectional study also highlights a challenge related to regional coordination. While 69% of mayors say they are well-informed about the major health issues in their region, 55% clearly identify existing forums for consultation, and only 53% consider them effective. Furthermore, one-third of mayors feel they are not sufficiently involved in locally implemented health policies (37%). There is a clear expectation for more structured cooperation within “regional health democracy.”
72% of mayors believe that private hospitalization already plays an important role in their area; the private sector is expected more than ever to provide a rapid response to health needs (59%), cooperate with public hospitals, offer outreach services to underserved populations (“reaching out”), and engage in prevention. The majority of mayors, like the French public, want private clinics and hospitals to play a greater role in the healthcare system in the future: 50% of mayors and 54% of the French public.
In summary, this study reveals a desire to strengthen the collective effectiveness of the healthcare system using its existing resources. This need goes hand in hand with efficiency, which has become essential in a highly constrained economic context.
Both the French public and mayors express a desire for concrete solutions based on better coordination among stakeholders, greater complementarity between the public and private sectors, and an increased capacity for local governments to take action. 74% of the French public want mayors to encourage cooperation between the public and private sectors, 70% want them to maintain regular dialogue with private clinics in their communities, and 89% believe that initiatives by healthcare providers at the local level should be further supported and promoted.
