Santé publique France, in partnership with the National Health Insurance System, is responsible for implementing a public awareness campaign on antibiotic resistance, its determinants, and its consequences for human health. This campaign is one of the 15 priority actions in the government’s antibiotic resistance plan, which aims to reduce antibiotic resistance by lowering consumption and promoting the proper use of antibiotics.

A thematic support committee was established in 2021 to assist in the development of a social marketing campaign on antibiotic resistance and the promotion of the proper use of antibiotics.

It supports the Agency in order to:

• better understand the factors driving the current levels of antibiotic use and resistance observed in France; 
• to identify target groups and levers for action to influence them; 
• to help bring about behavioral changes among the general public and prescribers; 
• to develop and tailor information campaigns on antibiotic resistance and the promotion of the proper use of antibiotics to their target audiences.

In 2019, the Director General of Health tasked Santé publique France with proposing a methodology to assess the medium-term health impact of the fire that occurred at the Lubrizol plant in Rouen. Santé publique France proposed implementing a system to monitor medium- and long-term health effects based on four complementary approaches:

• a population-based health survey;
• medium- and long-term monitoring of the health status of the exposed population;
• support for the occupational health service to establish a follow-up program for employees exposed during the fire;
• a biomonitoring study, if necessary based on environmental findings.

Work related to the population-based self-reported health survey, the first phase of support for occupational health services, and the biomonitoring feasibility study has been completed. The medium- and long-term epidemiological monitoring of the general population and workers will continue over several years.

With regard to the general population, the objective is to conduct regular, long-term monitoring of the health status of the population in the geographic area exposed to the fire, using health indicators related to conditions or health events that may be directly or indirectly linked to the adverse effects (inhalation or ingestion of pollutants, stress, anxiety, etc.) caused by the fire. With regard to workers, an assessment of exposures, medical monitoring, and acute health effects or events observed among workers following the fire was conducted; this assessment suggests the implementation of long-term monitoring of exposed employees. 

A thematic support committee was established in 2020 to provide advice and support for the implementation of the Agency’s work and to assist in interpreting the results. 

The Regional Health Agency (ARS) of French Guiana referred the matter to Santé publique France (referral received on April 15, 2024) to establish a surveillance system for specific heavy metals, intended for pregnant women and children suffering from lead poisoning and/or mercury poisoning. An interim response to this referral was issued in June 2024 by the agency, following its review of the referral.

A thematic support committee was established in early 2025 and is responsible for: 

• helping to establish a specific monitoring system for lead and mercury exposure among children and pregnant women, 
• developing an environmental investigation guide tailored to the Guyanese context for identified cases of lead poisoning, enabling the identification and prioritization of sources of lead exposure.

A study was launched in February 2019 with the aim of identifying areas with high rates of tuberculosis and describing the regions and populations most affected, in order to better target prevention efforts at the local level. 

A Thematic Support Committee has been established to assist Santé publique France, particularly in developing the study protocol and interpreting the study results.

Following the first Kannari study in the French West Indies, conducted in 2013, the new edition of this survey—Kannari 2—is designed to examine changes in exposure to chlordecone 10 years later. The Kannari 2 study will also examine other pollutants (pesticides and heavy metals) found in water, soil, food, and certain everyday products.

The role of the thematic support committee is to:

• define the study protocol, methodological guidelines, and practical procedures to be followed by the network of stakeholders and study partners;
• facilitate and contribute to their operational implementation;

The Scientific Advisory Board of the National Biomonitoring Program, led by Santé publique France, was also consulted.

Santé publique France regularly receives reports from field workers regarding unusual health events occurring in the workplace, both at the national and regional levels. The majority of these reports concern clusters of cases of the same disease—primarily cancers—or of the same symptoms. Less frequently, reports involve exposure that potentially endangers workers’ health. Santé publique France sought to develop a system for the Normandy region aimed at organizing the response to reports of unusual health events occurring in the workplace.

The committee’s mission is to ensure the processing of reports of unusual health events in the workplace. This involves validating and evaluating these reports, and deciding whether to conduct an investigation to describe the event and identify its possible cause, if feasible. The goal is to assist Santé publique France in proposing actions that could be implemented (prevention and control measures, enhanced health surveillance, exposure monitoring, etiological studies, etc.).

Environmental noise includes noise from transportation, industrial activities, construction sites, and recreational activities. The highest and best-documented exposure levels are associated with transportation (road, rail, and air) and, in Western Europe, represent the second-largest environmental contributor to the burden of disease.

A thematic support committee was established in 2023. It provides support for conducting the EQIS on transportation noise, particularly in developing the protocol and analyzing the results and uncertainties.

The committee’s expected support regarding the EQIS protocol focuses particularly on the metrology and modeling of exposure data, as well as the presentation of results, taking into account the combined effects of the various sources.

The system for monitoring cancer incidence by occupational activity—Sicapro—is based on the individual-level linkage of data from cancer registries with data on employment history from the National Old-Age Insurance Fund (Cnav). Establishing such a system for monitoring cancer incidence in relation to occupational activity is a priority in order to:

• identify sectors of activity in which cancer incidence is high; 
• suggest avenues for public health interventions, particularly for the prevention of occupation-related cancers; 
• to contribute to the evaluation, over time, of the impact of public interventions. 

A pilot study to test the feasibility of implementing such a surveillance system was conducted involving two voluntary registries: the General Cancer Registry of Lille and its region and the Tumor Registry of Doubs and the Belfort Territory. This feasibility study proved highly conclusive; the data are of good quality and completeness, allowing for a comprehensive reconstruction of professional careers. The goal is therefore to extend this surveillance system to all participating cancer registries in the Francim network (both general and specialized). This will provide greater analytical power and, in particular, enable the study of incidence rates for rarer cancer sites.

A thematic support committee was established in 2023 to assist the Santé publique France project team, with the aim of ensuring the consistency and relevance of the work and facilitating its operational implementation. This support will focus specifically on developing the protocol and the analysis plan, as well as analyzing the results.

As part of the second National Strategy on Endocrine Disruptors (SNPE2) and the National Health and Environment Plan (PNSE4), and in light of societal expectations regarding endocrine disruptors (EDs), Santé publique France has set itself the goal of developing “Monitoring of Indicators Related to Endocrine Disruptors.” To incorporate new scientific knowledge, Santé publique France is now planning to expand its monitoring of health indicators related to EDs beyond the monitoring already conducted on reproductive health.

This committee, established in late 2024, aims to support the agency in its methodological decisions and the work to be carried out as part of a comprehensive framework designed to better understand the impact of endocrine disruptors on human health. This committee will consist of three subgroups to cover all the areas necessary for implementing this program over the next four years:

• the reproductive health subgroup,
• the environmental burden subgroup,
• and the methodological support subgroup for the implementation of the various tools under consideration.

The ÉVANE study was launched in 2024 to gather information on how parents experience parenthood during the first two years of their child’s life. These findings will provide detailed insights into the environments (work, family, housing, etc.) in which parents of young children live and how these environments influence their experiences and parenting practices. Becoming a parent is an experience that can vary greatly from one person to another, which is why a large number of parents will be surveyed to reflect the diversity of feelings about their new role. The study’s findings will provide a better understanding of the needs of parents of young children, inform the development of initiatives aimed at these parents, and help guide public policy. 

A thematic support committee was established in 2022 to assist the Agency in conducting a survey designed to provide an overview of the parenting experiences of mothers and fathers during the first two years of a child’s life, in metropolitan France.

Social-emotional learning (SEL) refers to a set of social, emotional, and cognitive skills aimed at improving relationships with oneself and others. SEL is at the heart of health promotion and evidence-based prevention programs. Programs designed to develop SEL skills have been growing rapidly in recent years. There are many different approaches, which vary depending on the children’s ages, the program objectives, the professionals involved, and the context and environment in which they take place. These approaches require careful attention and vigilance if the goal is to ensure quality, effectiveness, sustainability, and consistency. The value of programs that promote the acquisition of psychosocial skills is widely recognized; this approach is promoted in five public health plans in France (Roadmap for Mental Health and Psychiatry; National Plan to Combat Addictions; Prevention Priority Plan; National Strategy for Sexual Health; National Tobacco Control Program). There is a strong expectation among policymakers and practitioners for the availability of standards, guidelines, and support for the implementation of evidence-based psychosocial skills interventions among children and youth.

A thematic support committee was established in 2021. It is responsible for providing advice and support for the development and implementation of Santé publique France’s work on this project to develop the psychosocial skills of children, youth, and adults in educational settings throughout France, through effective, evidence-based interventions. The committee’s work includes several activities, in particular contributing to: 

• PSC frameworks and practical guides for children and adults; 
• advocacy and awareness-raising tools on psychosocial skills; 
• seminars and knowledge-sharing initiatives on psychosocial skills.

Poor health can contribute to job loss and hinder re-entry into the workforce. Conversely, unemployment is itself a social determinant of health, with negative consequences for morbidity and mortality. The causes of excess mortality among the unemployed are multifactorial: pre-existing health problems that can lead to job loss, the financial and psychological consequences of long-term unemployment, and the “catalytic” effect of unemployment, which can either reveal or exacerbate existing health problems

The Epidemiological Surveillance of the Health of Unemployed Persons (SESSE) program aims to regularly produce national epidemiological indicators to quantify the health burden within this population and propose appropriate prevention strategies. The program aims to produce health surveillance indicators for unemployed individuals by drawing on two data sources: 

• the Santé publique France Health Barometer (ongoing); 

• the Permanent Demographic Sample linked to the National Health Data System (EDP Santé).

In 2026, Santé publique France established a thematic support committee tasked with assisting the project team in:

• conducting the health surveillance component for unemployed individuals under the SESSE program;

• developing study protocols for the construction of health indicators and potential methodological advancements, as well as discussing and interpreting study results and placing them in context;

• seeking partnerships for the various studies and coordinating with the research community.

Air pollution remains a significant determinant of public health in France, as it does worldwide, as demonstrated by publications from Santé publique France and the WHO, as well as the international literature. The health risks associated with air pollution are likely to change due to public policies aimed at reducing emissions, potential shifts in emission sources, and changing climatic conditions. It therefore appears necessary to anticipate the needs for epidemiological surveillance of this risk.

The Air and Health Monitoring Program (PSAS) is an epidemiological monitoring program on ambient air quality coordinated by Santé publique France to address these needs, following the enactment of the LAURE, the Law on Air Quality and the Rational Use of Energy of December 30, 1996).

The objectives of the PSAS are: 

• to study the short- and long-term health risks of air pollution (AP) at the population level to generate concentration-risk functions (CRFs);

• to assess the health impacts of AP and the benefits of implementing management measures at the national and local levels through quantitative health impact assessments of AP (EQIS-PA);

• to strengthen local expertise in epidemiological surveillance in this field;

• to contribute to national, European, and international expertise on the health effects of air pollution;

• to provide advocacy support to stakeholders involved in air quality management.

In 2026, Santé publique France established a thematic support committee tasked with assisting the project team with the annual planning of the PSAS and with any referrals.

The CAT’s support focuses in particular on proposals for the content of the annual program, the development of study protocols regarding metrology and the modeling of exposure data, the development of health indicators, potential methodological advancements, and contributions to responses to referrals.

In 2019, Santé publique France, in partnership with the Health Insurance Fund, the Social Security System for the Self-Employed, the French National Authority for Health (HAS), and the French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety (ANSM), launched the Entred 3 (National Representative Sample of People with Diabetes) in 2019, involving 13,000 people with diabetes in metropolitan France and the overseas departments. 

This national study on diabetes aims to gain a better understanding of the needs and care of people with diabetes in France. The goal is to improve the quality of care and, consequently, the health and quality of life of these individuals.

A thematic support committee was established in 2018. Its purpose is to define the overall strategy for the Entred 3 survey and to ensure its smooth implementation, monitoring, and the achievement of its objectives from both an institutional and financial perspective.

Epidemiological surveillance and monitoring of cancers in the general population are based on a partnership between Santé publique France and the National Cancer Institute (INCa), the Francim network of cancer registries, and the Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Department of the Hospices Civils de Lyon (HCL). These four partners define and implement a joint, multi-year partnership work program. The Francim database is a shared database that has been compiling data from the cancer registries of the Francim network since 1999. This database is the central tool for the epidemiological surveillance and monitoring of cancers, enabling analyses with sufficient statistical power.

A thematic support committee was established in 2021. It is responsible for technical issues related to the Francim network’s shared cancer registry database, specifically:

• monitoring the management of the database;
• ensuring data consistency and quality;
• monitoring the implementation of the work program with regard to the production of indicators;
• facilitating the dissemination of results from the shared Francim database and, in particular, discussing the methods for disseminating the results.

As early as spring 2020, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of children and young people became apparent. While the health crisis highlighted this impact and the need for action in terms of care and prevention, it also brought to light the lack of available data to describe mental health in France, particularly among the youngest age groups. Consequently, Santé publique France has launched a national survey on the mental health and well-being of children and youth (Enabee). The establishment of a sustainable system for monitoring and assessing the mental health and well-being of children starting at age 3, as called for by health authorities, is being led by Santé publique France and will thus provide a comprehensive overview of the impact and determinants of mental health issues in this population.

A thematic support committee was established in 2022, tasked with:

• defining the protocol;
• defining the mental health indicators to be collected and the methodological guidelines;
• defining the practical arrangements for networking;
• facilitating the operational implementation of the program.

Several national plans call for the conduct of a national study that would, among other things, provide information on the health status of the French population and estimate its dietary intake, body mass, sedentary behaviors, and levels of physical activity. 
Santé publique France, in partnership with the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), is working to develop a large-scale, ongoing national survey (Albane) designed to collect data in several areas: health status monitoring, nutrition, and biomonitoring. 

A thematic support committee was established in 2023 to assist in the design and implementation of the survey. Its objectives are:

• to contribute to discussions on the content and frequency of the topics (diseases, risk factors, and determinants) that this survey might address in its section on noncommunicable diseases;
• to consider the practical arrangements for collecting information in the survey and the methodology;
• to identify and monitor emerging practices, particularly in nutrition;
• to propose analysis plans;
• to participate in the interpretation and discussion of the results.

Santé publique France and INCa have been tasked with jointly drafting a report, following a request from the General Directorate of Health regarding trends in the incidence of malignant brain tumors. To this end, they are drawing on a thematic support committee established in 2025. 

The objectives of this committee are:

• to help produce a detailed analysis of incidence data from cancer registries regarding primary tumors of the central nervous system;
• to help identify ongoing or future research—particularly epidemiological studies—to strengthen our understanding of central nervous system tumors.

Santé Publique France has developed a new survey that includes a school-based health examination for children, combining the Enabee (Study on Children’s Well-Being) and CE1-CE2 surveys (Survey on Physical Activity and Nutrition Among Schoolchildren in France in CE1 and CE2 Grades). This new survey will strengthen the monitoring of children’s health in France, focusing on current issues such as body weight—a monitoring effort that has been suspended since 2016—and mental health, while improving our understanding of the determinants of these two health domains (screen time, sleep, physical activity, and sedentary behavior). Data collection is scheduled for 2028.

A Thematic Support Committee was established in 2026. The committee’s objectives are to support the Santé publique France project team, particularly in defining the objectives, the methodological framework, and the synergy between the long-term survey and existing surveys. 

More specifically, its tasks are to support the project team in the following areas: 

• the protocol:

  • inclusion and participation criteria;

  • data collection methods and information sources;

  • sampling plan;

  • discussion of expected deliverables;

• the selection of health indicators to be collected and methodological frameworks (choice of scales and questionnaires);

• practical arrangements for networking (data sharing, collaborative analysis, etc.);

• the operational implementation of the system:

  • definition of the survey’s communication scope;

  • promotion of the initiative in the field and in the media.

At the mental health and psychiatry conference held in September 2021, the first measure adopted was to ensure regular communication with the general public about mental health.

The communication and social marketing strategy on mental health is based on three pillars: 

• preventing mental distress, mental disorders, and associated risky behaviors, 
• promoting mental health and psychological well-being, and 
• combating the stigma surrounding people affected by mental health disorders. 

Santé publique France is also responsible for monitoring the mental health of the French population. This monitoring covers both transient conditions (depressive disorders or anxiety disorders) and psychiatric disorders (schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, etc.), as well as suicide. It draws on survey data, such as the Health Barometer, and healthcare utilization data, such as the National Health Data System (SNDS) or SurSaUD®.

In the area of communication and social marketing, the goal is to support the capabilities, motivations, and behaviors that can promote well-being and reduce morbidity and mortality associated with mental health disorders. This will involve, in particular, contributing to the early identification and referral of mental distress, the adoption of behaviors that promote well-being, and the reduction of discriminatory attitudes and behaviors toward people affected by mental disorders. In terms of surveillance, the focus will be on creating and updating numerous mental health indicators over the coming years.

The agency aims to develop this strategy for enhancing mental health surveillance, information, and communication—along with the associated communication and surveillance systems—with input from mental health professionals.

A thematic support committee was established in 2024, tasked with:

• Helping to define the agency’s multi-year program guidelines and the various approaches to surveillance, prevention, and health promotion,
• Participating in the monitoring of this program by drawing on the complementary skills and experiences of its members,
• Provide support to Santé publique France in defining the means to achieve the established objectives, the levers for action, and the conditions for implementing these actions,
• Supporting the agency in making the most of the indicators generated during surveillance;
• Contribute to the design of messages, content, and deliverables related to Santé publique France’s communication program.

Remote health prevention and support services combine hotlines and websites, offering the public personalized and tailored assistance by phone or online (chat, Q&A, forums, etc.). This assistance can take the form of a listening ear, support, information, advice, guidance, or counseling…

These services address various areas of public health: addictions, mental health, sexual health, youth health, environmental health, and chronic diseases, among others.

The “Aide en santé” quality label was created in 2013. The objectives of this label were as follows: 

• to support remote health assistance services in a process of continuous quality improvement 

• to better meet the public’s expectations regarding the quality of responses in the health sector and to provide users with a guarantee of trust;

• to assure regulatory authorities, funders, and partners of the quality of remote health support services.

Since 2024, Santé publique France has been working to overhaul the award criteria in order to strengthen quality guarantees, raise standards, and adapt the label’s criteria to changes in the public and its expectations. 

A Thematic Support Committee was established in 2026 to consult with Santé publique France on:

•  the expectations and evolving requirements of the general public and funding agencies regarding remote healthcare assistance, 

• the relevance and appropriateness of the criteria in light of these developments, 

• the possible incorporation, within the certification criteria, of best practices identified during certification audits.

The committee’s responsibilities are as follows:

• To review and approve the new version of the criteria revised by Santé publique France, as well as the new version of the application form;

• To review the certification criteria annually to determine whether they need to be revised or updated;

• Strengthen, if necessary, the eligibility criteria for the application form;

• Review best practices identified during certification audits with a view to updating the certification criteria;

• Review user complaints regarding a certified remote assistance service and determine the appropriate course of action;

• Review cases where the label may be revoked.