. Use of the army to set up hospitals, apply roadblocks and transport patients22 Or Z, Gandré C, Durand Zaleski I, Steffen M. France's response to the COVID-19 pandemic: between a rock and a hard place. Health Econ Policy Law; 17(1):14-26.,99 Desson Z, Weller E, McMeekin P, Ammi M. An analysis of the policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in France, Belgium, and Canada. Heal Policy Technol 2020; 9(4):430-446.,3838 Opillard F, Palle A, Michelis L. Discourse and strategic use of the military in France and Europe in the COVID-19 crisis. Tijdschr voor Econ en Soc Geogr 2020; 111(3):239-259.,3939 Gad M, Kazibwe J, Quirk E, Gheorghe A, Homan Z, Bricknell M. Civil-military cooperation in the early response to the COVID-19 pandemic in six European countries. BMJ Mil Heal 2021; 167(4):234-243.; . Release of beds in hospitals, with cancellation of non-urgent interventions77 Duguet A-M, Rial-Sebbag E. The fight against the COVID 19 epidemic in France: Health organisation and legislative adaptation. Med Law 2020; 39(2):173-188.; . Monitoring of bed saturation using a hospital system data panel2222 Piarroux R, Batteux F, Rebaudet S, Boëlle PY, Piarroux R, Batteux F. COVID-19 alert and surveillance indicators. Ann Fr Med D Urgence 2020; 10(4):333-339.; . Prioritizing face masks for symptomatic patients and health professionals and preventing the rise in the price of hydroalcoholic gel at the time of greatest scarcity66 Ghanchi A. Adaptation of the National Plan for the Prevention and Fight Against Pandemic Influenza to the 2020 COVID-19 Epidemic in France. Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2020; 14(6):805-807.; . Expansion of hospital capacity22 Or Z, Gandré C, Durand Zaleski I, Steffen M. France's response to the COVID-19 pandemic: between a rock and a hard place. Health Econ Policy Law; 17(1):14-26.,88 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies. France: country health profile 2021 [Internet]. Paris: OECD; 2021. [cited 2022 jun 8]. Available from: https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/social-issues-migration-health/france-country-health-profile-2021_7d668926-en,99 Desson Z, Weller E, McMeekin P, Ammi M. An analysis of the policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in France, Belgium, and Canada. Heal Policy Technol 2020; 9(4):430-446.; . Reorganization of the industry for the production of face masks and disinfectant gel66 Ghanchi A. Adaptation of the National Plan for the Prevention and Fight Against Pandemic Influenza to the 2020 COVID-19 Epidemic in France. Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2020; 14(6):805-807.; . Increase in public funding to complement the health professionals’ salaries and cover expenses with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the population99 Desson Z, Weller E, McMeekin P, Ammi M. An analysis of the policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in France, Belgium, and Canada. Heal Policy Technol 2020; 9(4):430-446.; . Reallocating employees from non-priority sectors, recruiting more workers and volunteers, increasing working hours22 Or Z, Gandré C, Durand Zaleski I, Steffen M. France's response to the COVID-19 pandemic: between a rock and a hard place. Health Econ Policy Law; 17(1):14-26.,99 Desson Z, Weller E, McMeekin P, Ammi M. An analysis of the policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in France, Belgium, and Canada. Heal Policy Technol 2020; 9(4):430-446.,2020 Giraud-Gatineau A, Gautret P, Colson P, Chaudet H, Raoult D. Evaluation of strategies to fight COVID-19: the French paradigm. J Clin Med 2021; 10(13):2942.. |
Epidemiological surveillance |
. Improvement of the case and contact monitoring process55 Stoecklin SB, Rolland P, Silue Y, Mailles A, Campese C, Simondon A, Mechain M, Meurice L, Nguyen M, Bassi C, Yamani E, Behillil S, Ismael S, Nguyen D, Malvy D, Lescure FX, Georges S, Lazarus C, Tabai A, Stempfelet M, Enouf V, Coignard B, Levy-Bruhl D. First cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in France: surveillance, investigations and control measures, January 2020. Eurosurveillance 2020; 25(6):2000094.,2222 Piarroux R, Batteux F, Rebaudet S, Boëlle PY, Piarroux R, Batteux F. COVID-19 alert and surveillance indicators. Ann Fr Med D Urgence 2020; 10(4):333-339.; . Increasing the capacity of laboratories for testing55 Stoecklin SB, Rolland P, Silue Y, Mailles A, Campese C, Simondon A, Mechain M, Meurice L, Nguyen M, Bassi C, Yamani E, Behillil S, Ismael S, Nguyen D, Malvy D, Lescure FX, Georges S, Lazarus C, Tabai A, Stempfelet M, Enouf V, Coignard B, Levy-Bruhl D. First cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in France: surveillance, investigations and control measures, January 2020. Eurosurveillance 2020; 25(6):2000094.; . Update of detailed epidemiological statistics99 Desson Z, Weller E, McMeekin P, Ammi M. An analysis of the policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in France, Belgium, and Canada. Heal Policy Technol 2020; 9(4):430-446.,2222 Piarroux R, Batteux F, Rebaudet S, Boëlle PY, Piarroux R, Batteux F. COVID-19 alert and surveillance indicators. Ann Fr Med D Urgence 2020; 10(4):333-339.; . Improvement/creation of applications and information systems99 Desson Z, Weller E, McMeekin P, Ammi M. An analysis of the policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in France, Belgium, and Canada. Heal Policy Technol 2020; 9(4):430-446.,2323 Pullano G, Di Domenico L, Sabbatini CE, Valdano E, Turbelin C, Debin M, Guerrisi C, Kengne-Kuetche C, Souty C, Hanslik T, Blanchon T, Boëlle PY, Figoni J, Vaux S, Campèse C, Bernard-Stoecklin S, Colizza V. Underdetection of cases of COVID-19 in France threatens epidemic control. Nature 2021; 590(7844):134-139.; . Increase in the role of general practitioners in the testing, notification and tracing process2525 Schmidt AE, Merkur S, Haindl A, Gerkens S, Gandré C, Or Z, Groenewegen P, Kroneman M, De Jong J, Albreht T, Vracko P, Mantwill S, Hernández-Quevedo C, Quentin W, Webb E, Winkelmann J. Tackling the COVID-19 pandemic: Initial responses in 2020 in selected social health insurance countries in Europe. Health Policy 2021; 126(5):476-484.; . Articulation with the surveillance system to monitor victims of attacks and special health situations2222 Piarroux R, Batteux F, Rebaudet S, Boëlle PY, Piarroux R, Batteux F. COVID-19 alert and surveillance indicators. Ann Fr Med D Urgence 2020; 10(4):333-339.; . Generation of a centralized database for all data on virological tests99 Desson Z, Weller E, McMeekin P, Ammi M. An analysis of the policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in France, Belgium, and Canada. Heal Policy Technol 2020; 9(4):430-446.,2323 Pullano G, Di Domenico L, Sabbatini CE, Valdano E, Turbelin C, Debin M, Guerrisi C, Kengne-Kuetche C, Souty C, Hanslik T, Blanchon T, Boëlle PY, Figoni J, Vaux S, Campèse C, Bernard-Stoecklin S, Colizza V. Underdetection of cases of COVID-19 in France threatens epidemic control. Nature 2021; 590(7844):134-139.; . Gradual expansion of testing, with guarantee of reimbursement by Social Security 9,12,20; . Social Security coverage of consultations and tests for contact tracing2525 Schmidt AE, Merkur S, Haindl A, Gerkens S, Gandré C, Or Z, Groenewegen P, Kroneman M, De Jong J, Albreht T, Vracko P, Mantwill S, Hernández-Quevedo C, Quentin W, Webb E, Winkelmann J. Tackling the COVID-19 pandemic: Initial responses in 2020 in selected social health insurance countries in Europe. Health Policy 2021; 126(5):476-484.. |
Incentive to research |
. Issuing Notices related to COVID-19, with faster selection and implementation by the Ethics Committees3434 Mohimont L, Chemchem A, Alin F, Krajecki M, Steffenel LA. Convolutional neural networks and temporal CNNs for COVID-19 forecasting in France. Appl Intell (Dordr) 2021; 51(12):8784-8809.. |
Patient care |
. Implementing referral hospitals, based on the first suspected cases55 Stoecklin SB, Rolland P, Silue Y, Mailles A, Campese C, Simondon A, Mechain M, Meurice L, Nguyen M, Bassi C, Yamani E, Behillil S, Ismael S, Nguyen D, Malvy D, Lescure FX, Georges S, Lazarus C, Tabai A, Stempfelet M, Enouf V, Coignard B, Levy-Bruhl D. First cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in France: surveillance, investigations and control measures, January 2020. Eurosurveillance 2020; 25(6):2000094.; . Use of the already available scientific base and the experience with SARS and MERS for the treatment of the first cases4040 Peiffer-Smadja N, Lucet J-C, Bendjelloul G, Bouadma L, Gerard S, Choquet C, Jacques S, Khalil A, Maisani P, Casalino E, Descamps D, Timsit JF, Yazdanpanah Y, Lescure FX. Challenges and issues about organizing a hospital to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak: experience from a French reference centre. Clin Microbiol Infect 2020; 26(6):669-672.; . Provision of guidelines for clinical management by the High Council for Public Health, based on studies and support from the WHO4141 Grandvuillemin A, Drici M-D, Jonville-Bera AP, Micallef J, Montastruc JL, Network the FP. French pharmacovigilance public system and COVID-19 pandemic. Drug Saf 2021; 44(4):405-408.; . Transfer of patients from the most affected regions to neighboring countries with greater care capacity77 Duguet A-M, Rial-Sebbag E. The fight against the COVID 19 epidemic in France: Health organisation and legislative adaptation. Med Law 2020; 39(2):173-188.,1212 Hassenteufel P. Handling the COVID-19 crisis in France: paradoxes of a centralized state-led health system. Eur Policy Anal 2020; 6(2):170-179.; . Testing and treatment, initially restricted to hospitals, were gradually reorganized to outpatient services2525 Schmidt AE, Merkur S, Haindl A, Gerkens S, Gandré C, Or Z, Groenewegen P, Kroneman M, De Jong J, Albreht T, Vracko P, Mantwill S, Hernández-Quevedo C, Quentin W, Webb E, Winkelmann J. Tackling the COVID-19 pandemic: Initial responses in 2020 in selected social health insurance countries in Europe. Health Policy 2021; 126(5):476-484.; . Defining the role of general practitioners by issuing guidelines for clinical management and extra payment for consultations related to COVID-192525 Schmidt AE, Merkur S, Haindl A, Gerkens S, Gandré C, Or Z, Groenewegen P, Kroneman M, De Jong J, Albreht T, Vracko P, Mantwill S, Hernández-Quevedo C, Quentin W, Webb E, Winkelmann J. Tackling the COVID-19 pandemic: Initial responses in 2020 in selected social health insurance countries in Europe. Health Policy 2021; 126(5):476-484.; . Coverage of 100% of expenses for COVID-19 treatment by Social Security77 Duguet A-M, Rial-Sebbag E. The fight against the COVID 19 epidemic in France: Health organisation and legislative adaptation. Med Law 2020; 39(2):173-188.,2525 Schmidt AE, Merkur S, Haindl A, Gerkens S, Gandré C, Or Z, Groenewegen P, Kroneman M, De Jong J, Albreht T, Vracko P, Mantwill S, Hernández-Quevedo C, Quentin W, Webb E, Winkelmann J. Tackling the COVID-19 pandemic: Initial responses in 2020 in selected social health insurance countries in Europe. Health Policy 2021; 126(5):476-484.; . Training of nurses working in different sectors to work in the ICU88 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies. France: country health profile 2021 [Internet]. Paris: OECD; 2021. [cited 2022 jun 8]. Available from: https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/social-issues-migration-health/france-country-health-profile-2021_7d668926-en; . Guidance on prioritization criteria in case of saturation of ICU beds, by the Ministry of Health2424 Paché G. Facing the COVID-19 pandemic in France: from managerialism to business logistics. Popul Health Manag 2021; 24(2):158-160.; . Encouraging the use of teleassistance, with teleconsultation coverage by the Health System, for less severe cases, while maintaining access to continued care88 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies. France: country health profile 2021 [Internet]. Paris: OECD; 2021. [cited 2022 jun 8]. Available from: https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/social-issues-migration-health/france-country-health-profile-2021_7d668926-en,99 Desson Z, Weller E, McMeekin P, Ammi M. An analysis of the policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in France, Belgium, and Canada. Heal Policy Technol 2020; 9(4):430-446.,2222 Piarroux R, Batteux F, Rebaudet S, Boëlle PY, Piarroux R, Batteux F. COVID-19 alert and surveillance indicators. Ann Fr Med D Urgence 2020; 10(4):333-339.; . Issuing of clinical practice guidelines for multidisciplinary teams assessing and managing long-term effects of COVID-1988 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies. France: country health profile 2021 [Internet]. Paris: OECD; 2021. [cited 2022 jun 8]. Available from: https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/social-issues-migration-health/france-country-health-profile-2021_7d668926-en; . Creation of measures to facilitate access to care for vulnerable groups, as in the case of migrants88 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies. France: country health profile 2021 [Internet]. Paris: OECD; 2021. [cited 2022 jun 8]. Available from: https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/social-issues-migration-health/france-country-health-profile-2021_7d668926-en. |
Vaccination |
. Implementation of vaccination in a centralized way to guarantee the quality of vaccines throughout the logistics chain2121 Antonini M, Eid MA, Falkenbach M, Rosenbluth ST, Prieto PA, Brammli-Greenberg S, McMeekin P, Paolucci F. An analysis of the COVID-19 vaccination campaigns in France, Israel, Italy and Spain and their impact on health and economic outcomes. Heal Policy Technol 2021; 11(2):100594.; . Implementation of a specific surveillance system for vaccines, with daily analysis of notifications and weekly issuing of expert reports4242 Benkebil M, Gautier S, Gras-Champel V, Massy N, Micallef J, Valnet Rabier M-B. COVID-19 vaccines surveillance in France: a global response to a major national challenge. Anaesth Crit Care Pain Med 2021; 40(3):100866.,4343 Lacroix C, Salvo F, Gras-Champel V, Gautier S, Massy N, Valnet-Rabier M-B, Grandvuillemin A, Mounier C, Benkebil M, Pariente A, Jonville-Béra A-P, Micallef J. French organization for the pharmacovigilance of COVID-19 vaccines: a major challenge. Therapie 2021; 76(4):297-303.; . Boosting vaccination, with a constant supply of vaccines and expanding the team of professionals in charge of vaccination2121 Antonini M, Eid MA, Falkenbach M, Rosenbluth ST, Prieto PA, Brammli-Greenberg S, McMeekin P, Paolucci F. An analysis of the COVID-19 vaccination campaigns in France, Israel, Italy and Spain and their impact on health and economic outcomes. Heal Policy Technol 2021; 11(2):100594.. |
Communication with the population |
. Daily press conferences, held by French health authorities in the first months of the pandemic, on the status of case investigations55 Stoecklin SB, Rolland P, Silue Y, Mailles A, Campese C, Simondon A, Mechain M, Meurice L, Nguyen M, Bassi C, Yamani E, Behillil S, Ismael S, Nguyen D, Malvy D, Lescure FX, Georges S, Lazarus C, Tabai A, Stempfelet M, Enouf V, Coignard B, Levy-Bruhl D. First cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in France: surveillance, investigations and control measures, January 2020. Eurosurveillance 2020; 25(6):2000094.; . Daily publication of an official panel with epidemiological statistics, by SpFrance55 Stoecklin SB, Rolland P, Silue Y, Mailles A, Campese C, Simondon A, Mechain M, Meurice L, Nguyen M, Bassi C, Yamani E, Behillil S, Ismael S, Nguyen D, Malvy D, Lescure FX, Georges S, Lazarus C, Tabai A, Stempfelet M, Enouf V, Coignard B, Levy-Bruhl D. First cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in France: surveillance, investigations and control measures, January 2020. Eurosurveillance 2020; 25(6):2000094.,99 Desson Z, Weller E, McMeekin P, Ammi M. An analysis of the policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in France, Belgium, and Canada. Heal Policy Technol 2020; 9(4):430-446.; . Guidance on behavioral measures constantly emphasized by the authorities, starting from the second phase of the Coping Plan66 Ghanchi A. Adaptation of the National Plan for the Prevention and Fight Against Pandemic Influenza to the 2020 COVID-19 Epidemic in France. Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2020; 14(6):805-807.; . Institution of mechanisms and laws related to the “open data policy”, allowing the government to publish data and administrative documents99 Desson Z, Weller E, McMeekin P, Ammi M. An analysis of the policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in France, Belgium, and Canada. Heal Policy Technol 2020; 9(4):430-446.. |