Emergency Healthcare
in France

15, 17, 18, or 112: which number actually matters

France runs three dedicated emergency services, each reached by its own number: 15 for SAMU (medical emergencies, staffed by a regulating physician who determines what response to send), 17 for police, and 18 for the pompiers, the fire brigade, who also carry medical equipment and frequently respond to domestic accidents and traffic incidents faster than SAMU in practice. All three are interconnected, so calling the wrong one still gets you routed correctly. For a visitor or a non-French speaker specifically, 112, the EU-wide emergency number, is the most reliable choice: operators are trained to switch to English on request and will dispatch the right service to your location. 112 works from any mobile phone, free of charge, anywhere in France.

What public urgences actually costs a visitor

French public hospital emergency departments (les urgences) will treat you regardless of your nationality, visa status, or insurance, full stop. What differs by visitor type is who ends up paying and how. EU and EEA citizens carrying a valid Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) are treated at the same rate as a French resident and can claim reimbursement at home; note that a GHIC or EHIC is explicitly not a substitute for travel insurance, since it doesn't cover medical evacuation or repatriation. Non-EU visitors are generally billed, either upfront or shortly after treatment, and are expected to recover the cost through their own travel insurance. An emergency room visit that doesn't result in hospital admission carries a flat 23 euro forfait patient urgences fee on top of whatever treatment is provided; an admission adds a separate daily hospital rate. None of this is designed to be punitive toward tourists, French healthcare is genuinely high quality and among the more affordable systems in Western Europe, but "the hospital will treat me" and "the hospital will treat me for free" are two different claims, and only the first one is guaranteed.

SOS Medecins: an alternative to the ER for less severe reactions

For a reaction that's uncomfortable but not immediately life-threatening (localized hives, mild swelling without airway involvement), SOS Medecins is a nationwide urgent-care service offering same-day home or hotel visits and walk-in consultations without an appointment, available in most French cities. It's not a substitute for calling 15 or 112 during a genuine anaphylactic emergency, but it's a real, commonly used option worth knowing about if symptoms are milder and a full emergency-room visit feels disproportionate. Confirm whether your travel insurance's assistance line can direct you to a specific SOS Medecins office.

Pharmacies

Pharmacies, marked with a green cross, are common across French cities and towns, staffed by pharmacists trained to advise on non-prescription remedies for mild reactions. Epinephrine auto-injectors require a prescription in France and pharmacists cannot dispense a specific brand on request, so travel with your own prescribed auto-injectors, ideally two, kept in your carry-on rather than checked luggage, matching the guidance already given for arriving at Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Travel insurance

Before buying a policy for a France trip, check three things: does it cover emergency anaphylaxis treatment, does it exclude food allergies as a pre-existing condition, and does the minimum coverage clear the 30,000 euro Schengen visa threshold, since that figure is a regulatory floor, not a recommendation for what adequate coverage looks like. If you're an EU or EEA citizen relying on a GHIC or EHIC, remember it covers treatment at resident rates but not medical evacuation, so a separate travel insurance policy is still worth having for a severe reaction that requires repatriation.

SafetyWing Nomad Insurance is one policy to compare, but its documentation does not name food allergies or anaphylaxis specifically. Review the pre-existing-condition and evacuation terms and get written clarification before buying.

Frequently asked questions

What should I do if I have an allergic reaction in France?

Use your prescribed epinephrine auto-injector immediately if you're having a severe reaction, then call 15 for SAMU or 112, the EU-wide number, which connects you to an English-speaking operator who will route the call correctly. State clearly that this is anaphylaxis or a severe allergic reaction so the response is prioritized. You can also go directly to the nearest hospital emergency department (les urgences), which will treat you regardless of your nationality or insurance status.

Do I have to pay for emergency treatment in France as a tourist?

Yes, unless you have an EU/EEA Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which gets you treatment at the same rate as a French citizen, reimbursable at home. Non-EU visitors are generally billed for care, either upfront or shortly after treatment, and are expected to claim the cost back through travel insurance. An emergency room visit without hospital admission carries a fixed 23 euro forfait patient urgences fee on top of whatever treatment is provided, and Schengen visa rules require at least 30,000 euros of medical coverage.

Which emergency number should I call in France?

Call 15 to reach SAMU, the medical emergency service, or 18 for the pompiers (fire brigade), who also respond to medical emergencies and are sometimes faster for domestic or traffic incidents. Call 17 for police. If you're a visitor or don't speak French, 112, the EU-wide emergency number, is the most reliable option: operators are trained to switch to English and will route your call to the correct service automatically.