Under French law, any health organization, public or private, is required to treat patients in an emergency situation regardless of their insurance status. Nonetheless, the responsibility of deciding what constitutes an emergency rests with the medical staff.
French emergency phone number (free from any phone) is 112 The Pompiers, or Sapeurs Pompiers also acts as an emergency first-aid service, as the fire brigade and public ambulance services are combined and the Pompiers will arrive with a doctor. They can be contacted in the event of any emergency, such as, for example, when you’re not able to get to a hospital yourself.
For the latest on the state of emergency care in France, visit our website on expatriate healthcare.