Macron injects more cash into France's strained healthcare system

French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech on the transformation of the French healthcare system at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, September 18, 2018. Etienne Laurent/Pool via REUTERS

PARIS (Reuters) - President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday promised extra money and more doctors in rural areas to ease pressure on France's hospitals, which are creaking under the weight of budget constraints and closures of clinics outside towns and cities.

Spending on healthcare will increase by 2.5 percent in 2019, higher than the initial 2.3 percent target and amounting to an additional 400 million euros ($470 million) in a near 200 billion euro budget, Macron said.