Updated: Dec 6, 96
FRANCE

In France there is no national IT strategy, with each hospital free to define its own development plan. The Ministry of Health does however demand financial and logistical returns in a specified manner. The hospital service consists of a mix of public establishments, community or inter-community based, privately-owned non-profit facilities which work within the public service; and some private profit-making undertakings which have signed concessionary agreements to work within the public service. There is also a separate private sector. The primary care sector, including general practitioners, functions separately to the hospital service and patients have no requirement to be registered with a GP, who does not act as a "gatekeeper" to the hospital system.

Information systems for administrative services are general, and organised through regional centres. There is an increasing emphasis on medical applications. There are a number of significant information systems developments, notably 10 integrated hospital systems and four smart card trials. The driving force for network development is France Telecom.

In general France would not see that a national strategy or policy is the appropriate way forward. There is a need for increased emphasis on the needs of the user - to move from sophisticated research to user-driven development, with tailor-made systems. A new general policy is still being defined with the Ministry of Health.

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