Santé publique France: 5 Years of Action, 5 Years of Commitment
In May 2021, Santé publique France celebrates its fifth anniversary. Established under the 2016 Health System Modernization Act, Santé publique France is France’s leading public health agency.
Santé publique France: Who Are We?
Santé publique France is the national public health agency. Our mission is to improve and protect the health of the population.
A video look back at our key initiatives over the past five years to promote public health
[SPF 5th Anniversary Video]
The Missions of Santé publique France
Santé publique France operates in the fields of health monitoring and surveillance, prevention, health promotion, and responding to health alerts. It thus fulfills the need for a leading public health center in France, ensuring a continuum from knowledge to action: anticipating, understanding, and acting in the service of everyone’s health.
Based on the principles of the Charter of Expertise, Santé publique France applies expertise that incorporates a high level of scientific competence, enabling it not only to generate knowledge (reports, risk assessments, opinions, expert analyses, studies) and, on the other hand, to operationally deploy health interventions as well as prevention and health promotion initiatives, based on scientifically reliable and conclusive data, in close collaboration with research.
Our work, grounded in independent scientific expertise, aims to better understand, explain, preserve, protect, and promote the health of populations across all regions of France.
A Message from Marie Caroline Bonnet Galzy, Chair of the Board of Directors
“Five years ago, Minister Marisol Touraine, building on the work led by François Bourdillon, spearheaded the creation of Santé publique France. This marked a major step forward in the areas of anticipation and prevention in public health.
We have come a long way since then, with our share of successes, such as #Moissanstabac and Nutriscore; ongoing battles, such as the fight to reduce alcohol-related risks, improve mental health, and promote environmental health; and misunderstandings, such as those surrounding investigations into cases of upper limb agenesis… And finally, trials—the greatest of which is the COVID-19 pandemic, undoubtedly the largest pandemic since the Spanish flu…
In the face of this crisis, we see just how meaningful the merger of the institutions that gave rise to Santé publique France has been. Integrating surveillance, monitoring, health promotion, alert systems, and crisis management has undoubtedly contributed to the quality of our teams’ response to the situation in France since early 2020.
But the pandemic also shows us where there is room for improvement, both within our organization and at the national and international levels: continuously advancing our information systems, adapting our infographics and expert messages on prevention and communication for the general public, emphasizing the constant link between individual and collective responsibility in terms of prevention, and helping decision-makers to better cooperate and anticipate challenges on all fronts: monitoring, analysis, design, and logistical implementation.
Santé publique France is now a well-known and recognized institutional player; the challenges it addresses are critical, and we can be proud to contribute to them!”
An agency serving the public
Santé publique France serves the public, from generating knowledge to implementing preventive measures or responding to public health emergencies. Its work is guided by four core values: commitment to the public interest, equity for all, responsiveness and long-term commitment, and innovation.
Santé publique France manages thematic prevention websites (for the general public and professionals) and oversees and supports 16 remote assistance programs. We also provide professionals with various services: a portal for evidence-based or promising interventions in prevention and health promotion, a health service, E-do, Géodes, and more.
A Message from Geneviève Chêne, Executive Director of Santé publique France
“Since its inception, the agency has been listening to the public, conducting studies and surveys, and generating and sharing a wealth of knowledge. All our actions are aimed at protecting and improving the health of the French people. The agency thus covers the full spectrum of surveillance, alerting, and response through prevention and support for healthcare systems across the entire country.
The staff at Santé publique France are committed every day to supporting and encouraging shifts toward healthier behaviors, thereby creating the conditions for better health.
We are living in a unique and demanding context. Our activities are adapting to the pace of the COVID-19 pandemic. This health crisis we are facing has highlighted the extraordinary potential of our agency: its agility, its adaptability, and its ability to bring all its strengths together to fulfill all its missions—and I mean all of them.
And none of this work would be possible without our ties to research, universities, public health operators, members of the national public health network, and all our national and international partners.
Milestone dates provide an opportunity to take stock of what has been accomplished and what remains to be done. So, on the occasion of this anniversary, we express our collective wish to continue constantly improving the health of the French people with the same determination, rigor, and professionalism in the years to come.”
An approach focused on openness to society and dialogue with stakeholders
Strengthened and regular dialogue is one of the essential pillars of public trust in research and scientific expertise. As such, Santé publique France is a signatory to the Charter of Openness to Society. This commitment reaffirms our determination to continue the process of openness and to enrich our work through enhanced dialogue with all stakeholders in society, based on three commitments:
supporting the acquisition of skills;
sharing available scientific knowledge;
increasing the transparency of our work.
What about the future?
Santé publique France’s commitment continues, and the agency is turning its attention to the challenges of tomorrow.
Our work program takes into account the guidelines of the national health strategy, the work priorities set by the Ministry of Health, and our contribution to public health plans and programs.
The coming years will focus on:
Understanding health in all its dimensions
Developing digital technology in public health
Analyzing and addressing health inequalities and regional vulnerabilities
Adopting a comprehensive approach linking environmental health, climate change, and the workplace
Combating the burden of chronic diseases
Promoting health in all its forms among the population
Some major public health issues included in the national health strategy:
Vaccination, the primary form of individual and collective prevention
Tobacco use, the leading determinant of health
Alcohol: rebuilding an ambitious prevention strategy
The impact of the environment on health; understanding, acting, and evaluating
Health at all stages of life: a multifaceted approach
Addressing social and regional health inequalities
Identification Card
Santé publique France: Scientific Knowledge for Better Health for All
Date of establishment: 2016
Status: public institution under the supervision of the Ministry of Health
Missions: anticipate, understand, act
Staff: 596 employees (+ 44 under contract)
Budget: over €570 million
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