French Defence Health service
Encyclopedia
French Defence Health Service (Service de santé des armées or SSA) is in charge of medical and sanitary support of the French Military
and of all institutions placed under the authority of the French Ministry of Defence.
Physicians and chemists receive initial training in Bordeaux
and Lyon
Then, they are sent to the Val de Grâce Hospital in Paris
for applied training.Dentists and vets are recruited in the civilian labour market.
The service also includes administrative and technical officers (OCTASSA), nurses (males and females) and paramedical staff.
During The French Revolution (1789-1799) and the Napoleonic Empire
(1804-1814), changes were required due to successive mobilisations. So, military hospitals were set up in religious building such as the Val-de-Grâce
church in Paris
.
In 1882, the french Parliament
gave the military health services a technical independence. Subsequently, eight hospitals, two schools (in Lyon
and Bordeaux
), as well as research and sanitary supply agencies were gradually acquired.
In 1962, a central management of the military Health services was established. Later, in 1968, all of the military Health services (Navy, Air Force, Army, Constabulary, etc.) merged in order to form a single joint Defence Health service.
Therefore, it sets up medical and surgical equipment as close to the casualties as possible. Furthermore, it proceeds to early repatriation of injured soldiers to military hospitals in France
.
Moreover, during out of area operations, though prioritizing medical support to its own forces, it provides medical assistance to local populations.
Doctor-Inspectors are Médecins chef tasked with inspecting military medical facilities. They are in two grades:
Military of France
The French Armed Forces encompass the French Army, the French Navy, the French Air Force and the National Gendarmerie. The President of the Republic heads the armed forces, with the title "chef des armées" . The President is the supreme authority for military matters and is the sole official who...
and of all institutions placed under the authority of the French Ministry of Defence.
Physicians and chemists receive initial training in Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
and Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
Then, they are sent to the Val de Grâce Hospital in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
for applied training.Dentists and vets are recruited in the civilian labour market.
The service also includes administrative and technical officers (OCTASSA), nurses (males and females) and paramedical staff.
History
Military Health services were set up by Louis XIV via the 17th of January 1708 edict which established royal doctors and surgeons offices.During The French Revolution (1789-1799) and the Napoleonic Empire
First French Empire
The First French Empire , also known as the Greater French Empire or Napoleonic Empire, was the empire of Napoleon I of France...
(1804-1814), changes were required due to successive mobilisations. So, military hospitals were set up in religious building such as the Val-de-Grâce
Val-de-Grâce
This article describes the hospital and former abbey. For the main article on Mansart and Lemercier's central church, see Church of the Val-de-Grâce....
church in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
In 1882, the french Parliament
Parliament of France
The French Parliament is the bicameral legislature of the French Republic, consisting of the Senate and the National Assembly . Each assembly conducts legislative sessions at a separate location in Paris: the Palais du Luxembourg for the Senate, the Palais Bourbon for the National Assembly.Each...
gave the military health services a technical independence. Subsequently, eight hospitals, two schools (in Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
and Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
), as well as research and sanitary supply agencies were gradually acquired.
In 1962, a central management of the military Health services was established. Later, in 1968, all of the military Health services (Navy, Air Force, Army, Constabulary, etc.) merged in order to form a single joint Defence Health service.
Medical support to out of area operations
The french defence health service is committed to offering optimal healthcare quality standards in order to preserve the chances of survival and the physical of the patients.Therefore, it sets up medical and surgical equipment as close to the casualties as possible. Furthermore, it proceeds to early repatriation of injured soldiers to military hospitals in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Humanitarian involvement
The humanitarian side of the defence french defence health service focuses on post-disaster emergency relief and medical support to populations stricken by conflicts.Moreover, during out of area operations, though prioritizing medical support to its own forces, it provides medical assistance to local populations.
Unique Ranks of the SSA
Doctors hold the following ranks:- Interne ("Intern", equivalent to a lieutenant) A rank invented in 2005.
- Médecin ("Doctor", equivalent to a capitaine)
- Médecin principal ("Lead Doctor", equivalent to a commandant)
- Médecin en chef ("Doctor-in-Chief", equivalent to a lieutenant-colonel or colonel according to seniority)
- Médecin chef des services classe normale ("Chief Doctor of Services, Standard Class", equivalent to a général de brigade)
- Médecin chef des services hors classe ("Chief Doctor of Services, Beyond Class", equivalent to a général de division)
Doctor-Inspectors are Médecins chef tasked with inspecting military medical facilities. They are in two grades:
- Médecin général ("Doctor-General", equivalent to a général de brigade)
- Médecin général inspecteur (equivalent to a général de division)