The small French town of Encausse-les-Thermes is facing a potential healthcare crisis as the local medical office, serving approximately 2,500 patients, is threatened with closure following the announced retirement of Dr. Michèle Amardeil. The situation is compounded by the fact that Dr. Katia Texier, Dr. Amardeil’s colleague, does not intend to maintain the practice alone, leaving a significant portion of the local population at risk of losing access to primary care.
The impending closure, scheduled for , has sparked concern not only within Encausse-les-Thermes but also in neighboring communities. Jacques Renaud, the mayor of Payssous, has voiced his alarm, joining local elected officials, nurses, and pharmacists in urging authorities to intervene. “How did we get here? In five months, 2,500 patients will find themselves without doctors in our territory,” Renaud stated, highlighting the potential for a significant disruption in healthcare access.
The difficulties in finding a replacement for Dr. Amardeil have been ongoing for years. Renaud emphasized that Dr. Amardeil had “seriously taken all the steps to find a buyer” over the past five years, but without success. He has already alerted Alain Puenté, president of the Community of Communes of Haut-Garonnais, to the looming crisis, stressing the vital importance of the medical office to the region. The mayor of Payssous is now calling for a coordinated effort from institutional actors to find a solution.
This situation reflects a broader trend of challenges facing primary care access in France, and globally. While the specific details of the Encausse-les-Thermes case are localized, the underlying issues – physician retirement, difficulty attracting replacements, and the potential for medical deserts – are increasingly common. The term “medical desert” (désert médical) is frequently used in France to describe areas with limited access to healthcare professionals, particularly general practitioners.
The potential closure also has implications beyond direct patient care. According to a report from , the continued operation of the medical office is linked to the viability of the local pharmacy and nursing practice. The report indicates that approximately 30% of the pharmacy’s business is directly related to prescriptions from the medical office, suggesting a potential ripple effect if the office were to close.
The situation in Encausse-les-Thermes is occurring against a backdrop of broader healthcare policy changes in Quebec, Canada, as reported in December 2025. While geographically distinct, the Quebec situation highlights the financial pressures facing medical clinics. Reports indicate that both Biron Health Group and Telus Health have denied rumors of seeking to acquire financially troubled clinics, but the underlying financial instability remains a concern for many practices.
The historical context of therapeutic spas, particularly in colonial settings, as detailed in research on hydrotherapy and climatology, offers a broader perspective on the importance of accessible healthcare infrastructure. While the modern challenges in Encausse-les-Thermes are distinct from the colonial era, the fundamental need for local medical services remains constant. Historically, spas were often established to cater to specific populations, and the current situation underscores the importance of ensuring equitable access to healthcare for all communities.
The case of Encausse-les-Thermes underscores the fragility of rural healthcare systems and the critical need for proactive planning to address physician shortages and ensure continuity of care. The call for collective mobilization from Mayor Renaud reflects a growing recognition that addressing these challenges requires a multi-faceted approach involving local, regional, and national authorities. The coming months will be crucial in determining whether a solution can be found to prevent the creation of a medical desert in this corner of France.
The situation also highlights the importance of succession planning within medical practices. The five-year effort by Dr. Amardeil to find a replacement demonstrates the challenges physicians face in transitioning their practices and ensuring continued care for their patients. This underscores the need for support systems and incentives to encourage younger physicians to establish practices in rural and underserved areas.
