In Paris on Tuesday, April 7th, approximately 350 scientists gathered in front of the National Assembly to protest against a reorganization project of Santé Publique France (SPF), which they describe as dismantling. These scientists are among the 650 employees who have been working since 2016 to observe and analyze the health of the French population. SPF, divided into 16 regional units in France, was created following the merger of several organizations to consolidate the missions of health promotion, prevention, epidemic surveillance, and health event alert. The government and regions base their information and communication campaigns on the scientific work of SPF teams.
The proposed reform by the Ministry of Health speaks of “strategic realignment.” In Nouvelle-Aquitaine, the SPF team, like others in the country, feels directly threatened. The team of scientists, doctors, and epidemiologists in Bordeaux monitors the health of 6 million residents from 12 departments and responds to 140 requests from the state each year to monitor recurring or unforeseen health situations.
The government’s strategy aims to improve efficiency by streamlining tasks to save money and time. The Director of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional Health Agency (ARS) tries to calm down the SPF employees by explaining that the goal is to enhance state efficiency rather than eliminate the agency.
Concerns arise as the state plans to take over national public health communication campaigns from SPF, leading to fears of a regression in public health surveillance and prevention efforts. This move is met with resistance from the scientific community and public health sector in France, highlighting the importance of maintaining a neutral and scientific approach in public health matters.
The project to reorganize SPF is seen as a threat to independent scientific structures, and there is a fear of a significant dismantling of scientific agencies. This raises questions about the government’s commitment to important public health issues like pesticides and alcohol.
