| Unit Name: | French Defence Central Health Service |
| Native Name: | Service de Santé des Armées |
| Country: | France |
| Allegiance: | French Armed Forces |
| Branch: | Support Services |
| Size: | 15,800 military and civilians |
| Patron: | Saint-Luc |
| Motto: | Your Life is Our Battle ("Votre Vie, Notre Combat") |
| Website: | https://www.defense.gouv.fr/english/sante/introduction |
| Current Commander: | Lieutenant General ("Médecin Général des Armées") Maryline GYGAX-GÉNÉRO [1] |
The French Defence Central Health Service ("Service de Santé des Armées" or SSA) is responsible for medical and sanitary support of the French Armed Forces and of all institutions placed under the authority of the French Ministry of Armed Forces. It is a joint service, and its central administration (Direction Centrale du Service de Santé des Armées, DCSSA) is under the direct control of the Chief of the defence staff (chef d'état-major des armées (CEMA)).
Its significant presence on French territory ensures adequate support for French operations in overseas theatres. It provides hospital care services, administers medicals for military personnel, and gives expertise in disease prevention, and medical, dental, pharmaceutical, paramedical and veterinary research and education.
Physicians and chemists receive initial training in Lyon and in Bordeaux until 2011. 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 (male and female) and paramedical staff.
The health services of the French army and navy were set up by Louis XIV with the 17 January 1708 edict which established royal doctors and surgeons offices.
During The French Revolution (1789–1799) and the Napoleonic Empire (1804–1814), changes were required due to successive mobilisations. Military hospitals were then set up in religious buildings such as the Val-de-Grâce church in Paris.
In 1882, the French Parliament gave the military health services a degree of independence. Subsequently, eight hospitals, two schools (in Lyon and Bordeaux), as well as research and sanitary supply agencies were gradually acquired.
In 1890, the Military Medical Schools at Bordeaux and Lyon opened. Bordeaux educated for the Navy and colonial troops, while Lyon educated for the Army and the new Air Force.
In 1962, a central management of the military health services was established. In 1968, all of the military health services (Navy, Air Force, Army, Gendarmerie, etc.) merged to form a single joint defence health system.
On July 2, 2011, the Military School of Medicine (ESA) was established as part of a rationalisation of the armed forces, meaning the closure of Bordeaux. This makes Lyon the only school of military institution providing the first six years of medical and pharmacist training in the armed forces. The ESA inherits the traditions of both schools.
Notable characters in the history of the French military health services include:
The primary mission of the SSA is to provide medical support to armed forces personnel. It is responsible for ensuring their suitability for operations, at their application, throughout their careers, and beyond, assessing their physical and mental health. (selection, fitness, immunizations, care, protection, health education etc.).
On operations, the SSA support the sick and wounded from outset until full recovery. It is organised into four levels:
The French Defence Health Services is committed to providing optimal emergency and routine health care to the injured and ill military patients overseas. Therefore, it sets up medical and surgical facilities as close to the operations as possible. Furthermore, it proceeds to early repatriation of injured soldiers to military hospitals in France, with the objective of admitting the patient to a French Military Teaching Hospital within 24 hours following the injury, when necessary.
The humanitarian side of the French Defence Health Services 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.
Doctors with clinical duties hold the following ranks:
General officers with management and inspecting duties have specific ranks:
The Director of the French Defence Health Service and the Inspector General of the Defence Health Services both have the rank of "Médecin général des Armées" (equivalent to Lieutenant General).