Engaging with Society: Santé publique France Renews Its Steering and Dialogue Committee (COD)

Published on 23 April 2026

Press Contacts

Santé publique France
presse@santepubliquefrance.fr

Stéphanie Champion: 01 41 79 67 48
Marie Delibéros: 01 41 79 69 61
Camille Le Hyaric: 01 41 79 68 64

The Steering and Dialogue Committee of Santé publique France (COD) is beginning a new four-year term. The committee helps inform Santé publique France about the expectations and concerns of civil society, as well as the methods for engaging with the public and stakeholders. Following a call for nominations, the agency’s Board of Directors appointed the twenty members of the COD in November 2025 for the 2026–2029 term, seven of whom were reappointed to ensure continuity of work. David Simard, who holds a doctorate in the philosophy of medicine and health, was elected by the committee members to serve as chair of the COD for the duration of this term.

The Steering and Dialogue Committee: An advisory body on the strategy for engagement and dialogue with society

Through its work, opinions, and recommendations, the COD contributes to the quality and relevance of Santé publique France’s actions by offering its perspective on current and future public health issues and the societal questions they raise. It proposes priorities for the work program’s direction and supports the implementation of the Agency’s strategy for openness and dialogue.

The committee also contributes to improving the Agency’s communication methods, particularly during health crises, and enables the Agency to contribute to public debates on public health issues.

Under this new mandate, the Steering and Dialogue Committee (COD) will work in conjunction with the Scientific Council and the Ethics and Professional Conduct Committee and will focus its work on concrete projects and situations, in order to ensure that the expectations of civil society are central to the Agency’s work.

Diverse profiles fostering dialogue between science and society

The Steering and Dialogue Committee is much more than an advisory body: it contributes to health democracy. The COD embodies Santé publique France’s commitment to engaging civil society to guide its priorities, enrich its deliberations, and strengthen the confidence of the public and stakeholders in the public health initiatives the Agency carries out with its partners, both at the national and local levels.
Dr. Caroline Semaille, Director General of Santé publique France

Given the wide range of public health issues addressed by the agency and the diverse connections it forges with civil society and the public, COD members bring varied experiences and skills to fulfill their mission: knowledge of science-society and science-policy relations, experience with participatory and consultative processes, communication, knowledge of local regions and their populations, experience in prevention, mediation and community health, understanding of how citizens perceive health risks, and analysis of controversies.

The diversity of profiles represented on the committee (local elected officials and heads of municipal or departmental services, healthcare professionals, medical-social sector actors, health mediators, representatives of civil society organizations, a philosopher, representatives of the health insurance sector, etc.) will enable the committee to provide a multifaceted perspective on the agency’s programming decisions and its methods of engaging with society.