Mission of the military health service

Under the authority of the chief of general staff, the Military Health Service fulfils a double oriented mission, on one hand for the benefit of the armed forces, on the other for the national public health system.

Health support of the armed forces

The Military Health Service’s main mission is delineated in the “operational contract”, concluded with the armies and approved by the general staff. It defines the necessary health support of the armed forces disregarding the circumstances and the locations:

• for the preparation of operations, by ensuring the health conditioning of personnel (selection, readiness for service, healthcare, immunisations, protection, health education) and by implementing the medical component of the operational support (technical personnel, equipment, training) ;
• during operations, by taking care of the wounded and ill soldiers, with a view to preserving their physical and psychological integrity ;
• after returning, by checking up and following up lifelong the state of health of the soldiers (specific medical follow-up, continuing cares, after-effects assessment) ;
• by retracing emerging threats, especially those related to CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) risks.

Contribution to the national public health system

The Military Health Service contributes to the public health services within its skills, thus taking part in the security and the protection plans for the French population (e.g. influenza pandemic).

Support to public hospital services

Military hospitals are open to the whole population covered by Social Security. 80% of their patients are not related to the Ministry of Defence.

Commitment to protection and relief of the population

Thanks to the expertise, organisation and responsiveness of its personnel, the Military Health Service acts as a well-recognized partner in the management of sanitary crises on the national territory, such as the Chikungunya outbreak.

The Military Health Service contributes also significantly to planning and implementing governmental plans aiming at the facing up of natural hazards (e.g. the avian flu pandemic plan) or provoked risks (e.g. the anti-terrorist Biotox plan). It plays a major part in the national system of defence against CBRN risks.

At the request of the Ministry for Health, the Military Central Pharmacy contributes to implement national drug stocks: antiviral treatments to face up potential flu pandemics, CBRN antidotes, potassium iodine tablets…

Military physicians, permanently committed to missions of the public service, may be assigned to missions for the Ministry of the Interior (Paris Fire Brigade, Marseille Navy Fire Battalion, military Civil Security Units).