Remote Healthcare Support

Remote health prevention and assistance (PADS) is a key prevention resource, providing direct access to the French public and overcoming geographical barriers.

Combining telephone hotlines and websites, remote assistance services offer extensive hours of availability and provide the public with personalized answers and support (by phone or online). They can also refer individuals to appropriate care facilities, thereby serving as a bridge to the healthcare system.
Remote assistance services are integrated into prevention programs that support national public health plans and are linked, depending on the topic, to Santé publique France’s media campaigns.

Santé publique France’s Service Offerings

As a major player in health-related telephone services, Santé publique France was entrusted by the government in 2003 with managing part of the PADS services. See the section on Illicit Drugs

Santé publique France operates 5 programs in the field of addictions (tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, drugs, and gambling addiction), and subsidizes 20 community-based prevention programs in areas where population health and/or prevention issues are significant: sexual health, mental health, youth health, chronic diseases, and indoor environmental health.

In 2024, these initiatives generated 241,214 responses (interviews, chats, and Q&As) and nearly 20.9 million website visits.

Relying on these initiatives, the agency maintained, throughout the health crisis, a vital connection with vulnerable populations (those who have dropped out of care, faced domestic violence, treatment interruptions, fears of the virus, distress, isolation, etc.) by offering:

• information, support, and guidance for people in need;

• enhanced contact options through the launch of a chat feature;

• the development of specific online content and the promotion of discussion communities through forums;

• updating the addiction services directory with contact information established by the initiative to assist the public during the health crisis;

• a list of national remote support services—whether or not supported by the agency—that are accessible during the health crisis.

Helpful phone numbers for remote healthcare support services supported by Santé publique France

• The "Useful Remote Health Assistance Numbers" brochure provides phone and web contact information for 16 health helplines (sexuality, AIDS, hepatitis, drugs, tobacco, mental health issues, allergies, alcohol, STIs, rare diseases), including a description of each service, the helpline’s hours of operation, the cost of the call, and the website address

• Map of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention - Remote Health Assistance

• Chronic Disease Prevention Map - Remote Health Assistance

• Youth Health Map - Remote Health Assistance