key: cord-0707667-tjh5lbp7
authors: Brocard, Eva; Mélihan-Cheinin, Pascal; Rusch, Emmanuel
title: Health democracy in time of COVID-19: a perspective from France
date: 2021-03-25
journal: Lancet Public Health
DOI: 10.1016/s2468-2667(21)00053-0
sha: be5ba23375d34249671c09c2f12950efb27ad784
doc_id: 707667
cord_uid: tjh5lbp7

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The CNS is a consultative body, created in 1996, consisting of 96 independent members, the widest range of stakeholders for health and social sectors. The body includes representatives of patients' organisa tions, unions, and social protec tion actors; prevention profes sionals; researchers; health-care services and pro ducts providers; local elected officials; and regional health consultative bodies. The aims of this organisation are to advise France's Minister of Health on the health policies on the agenda, as well as to alert and issue recommendations about specific health issues of the CNS members' choice.

In late 2010, during the H1N1 pandemic period, the CNS adopted a series of recommendations on how to consult the population during a health crisis to guarantee effec tive protection through a democratic process. However, the voices of the patients were barely heard in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. There fore, in mid-April, the CNS issued a resolu tion 2 calling upon the govern ment to consult civil society and health democracy con sultative bodies for the man agement of the COVID-19 pandemic response. The CNS recommended ensur ing the con sultation of patient's org anisa tions by hospitals staff, guaranteeing information sharing and communication between regional health democracy bodies and regional departments of the French Health Ministry. The body also requested to be consulted on the public health measures considered by the ministry with regards to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In response, the French Government formally committed in July, 2020, to strengthen prerogatives and human resources of the regional health consultative bodies at the local level. At the national level, the French Health Minister has officially consulted the CNS since December, 2020, on the effects of the pandemic on patients. To answer the Health Ministry's solicitation, the body mobilised its members to obtain information on COVID-19 effects on patients' rights (including nondiscrimination principles, the respect of medical secrecy, and the right to clear and accurate information), equal access to health care, and the quality of patient care. Members shared more than 100 written contributions, which will provide input for the CNS's upcoming report on patient rights in time of COVID-19. This report, which will be published in June, 2021, will provide key observations on the repercussions of the pandemic on patients' rights and care pathways, as well as recommendations for future health crisis management.

The CNS will continue to advocate for greater civil society involvement, not only to strengthen the government response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but also to influence evidence-based policies centred around the needs of patients.

France's COVID-19 response: balancing conflicting public health traditions

La démocratie en santé à l'épreuve de la crise sanitaire du COVID-19