A collective of over 300 public health actors, including Françoise Barré-Sinoussi and Dominique Costagliola, expresses shock at a possible reorganization of Santé publique France that would threaten its independence. This measure, based on an unpublished report, plans to transfer prevention campaigns to the Ministry of Health under direct government authority. The signatories emphasize the need to maintain independent scientific expertise for health policies.
In a tribune published in Le Monde, a group of doctors, researchers, and public health actors denounces a sudden decision regarding Santé publique France, the national agency created in 2016. This entity groups essential missions such as population health surveillance, health vigilance and alerts, as well as prevention and health promotion. The signatories, over 300 in total, consider the transfer of prevention campaigns to the Ministry of Health as tantamount to near-dismantling, based on a report from the General Inspectorate of Social Affairs (IGAS) that has never been made public.
"We, doctors, researchers, public health actors, are seized with stupor at the announcement of a possible reorganization of Santé publique France," they write. They recall that this structure responds to lessons from past health crises, stressing the need for strong public expertise independent of political decision-makers to analyze risks and inform decisions.
Current challenges, such as the rise in chronic diseases, cancers, social and territorial health inequalities, harmful environmental exposures, industrial actors' influence, the emergence of new infectious diseases, and weaknesses in the prevention system, require policies based on robust and enduring data. The collective warns: "Weakening or fragmenting the national agency Santé publique France would constitute a regression," threatening the distinction between scientific risk assessment and political decision.
Among the signatories are recognized figures like Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, Dominique Costagliola, and Serge Hercberg. This initiative raises a fundamental question about the place given to scientific expertise in shaping health policies in France.