Overview
- A decree published Saturday, June 13 fixes ceilings at 31 days for a first sick‑leave prescription and 62 days for a prolongation and will take effect on 1 September 2026 with doctors able to exceed the limits if they justify it on the prescription.
- The government frames the reform as a cost‑control move, pointing to roughly €18 billion a year in sick‑leave spending and saying the rule will increase consultations and patient follow‑up.
- Doctors' groups and unions have sharply criticised the measure as punitive, saying it will add paperwork, question clinical judgment, and stigmatise patients who need longer leaves.
- Medical access problems are a practical concern because people in areas with few GPs may struggle to get timely appointments to extend a leave and could face pressure to return to work.
- A second decree published the same day limits indemnity payments for work accidents and occupational diseases to four years from 2027 and the change arrives against a backdrop of rising absenteeism since 2019.