The National Public Health Agency, established by Order No. 2016-462 of April 14, 2016, is a public administrative agency under the supervision of the Ministry of Health.

To learn more about the missions of Santé publique France:
https://www.santepubliquefrance.fr/a-propos/sante-publique-france-qui-sommes-nous

To fulfill its surveillance and early warning responsibilities, Santé publique France, together with its regional offices (Regional Units), has for many years established surveillance systems in the French overseas departments and regions (DROM) that rely on networks of physicians. These networks, known as sentinel physician networks—which have no connection to the mainland sentinel network—generate data at the local level, particularly for the surveillance of various conditions (influenza-like illnesses and circulating viruses, acute diarrhea, malaria depending on the territory, arboviruses, etc.).
This data contributes to the surveillance of the health of overseas populations, the detection and monitoring of epidemics, and the estimation of the health impact of these epidemics in certain territories. This information can then be used by health authorities to manage these events.
After many years of operation—up to 30 years depending on the territory—it was deemed necessary to conduct a joint, structured evaluation of these systems, each of which has its own specific characteristics.

This evaluation committee will be tasked with describing these networks in Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Mayotte, and Réunion; evaluating the physician-based surveillance system in each of these territories; and making recommendations regarding potential changes to these systems.

This evaluation committee will consist of 10 members—French nationals or French-speaking foreigners—appointed by the Director General of Santé publique France.

The members of this committee will serve in their personal capacity and may not be replaced.

The expertise required within the evaluation committee must enable the description of the organizational and operational modalities of the surveillance networks. It must also enable the evaluation of surveillance systems according to internationally validated criteria and provide a public health perspective on these systems.

Finally, based on its findings and experience, the evaluation committee must describe the organizational and operational procedures of the DROM networks; assess their utility in public health; and, if necessary, make recommendations regarding the system’s future development.

Through this call for applications, Santé publique France is seeking qualified individuals with expertise in the following areas:

General Skills

• Knowledge of and interest in public health approaches.

• Ability to work collaboratively and in a multidisciplinary setting.

• Experience participating in working groups.

• Writing skills.

• Ability to synthesize information.

Specific skills

We are seeking epidemiologists, statisticians, infectious disease specialists, biologists, public health physicians, and hospital or private practice physicians who have:

• A solid understanding of public health surveillance, particularly in epidemiology

• A good understanding of how a sentinel surveillance system works…….

• Experience in using surveillance data, particularly in public health emergency situations……

• Expertise in the field of surveillance system evaluation

• A strong vision of public health

• Knowledge and understanding of public health decision-making

• Expertise in the field of virology, particularly influenza

• Proficiency in analyzing surveillance data (time series, alert thresholds, modeling, etc.)

Members of the Evaluation Committee are appointed for a two-year term.

The Committee meets in person at least once a year at the Santé publique France site in Saint Maurice for one-day sessions, and conference calls will be held. A five-day on-site evaluation mission will be conducted in each region with two to three members of the Evaluation Committee.

The Chair of this Committee is appointed from among its members by the Director General of Santé publique France.

Members sign a “Confidentiality Agreement and Commitment to Regularly Attend Meetings.”

The scientific and administrative secretariat of this Committee is provided by the Regional Directorate of Santé publique France (Dire)

The Director General of Santé publique France provides the Committee with the resources necessary for its operation.

Travel and accommodation expenses are reimbursed in accordance with the terms and conditions applicable to civilian government employees.

Compensation for loss of income in the case of self-employed individuals, as well as compensation for time spent attending meetings and for work performed, is provided in accordance with the schedule established by the Board of Directors of Santé publique France.