Reform of the university health system: all students will now benefit from health services

As the Ministry reminded, SSUs now allow university students to benefit from follow-up in terms of health and prevention. To properly carry out these missions, the SSUs present in most French universities rely on “a very good knowledge of the needs of students, and proved their worth in the management of the health crisis, when they were particularly used”.

A necessary change in the wake of the health crisis

The health crisis in relation with the pandemic led to an extension of the action capacities of SSUs, which received additional tasks, and particularly: tests, vaccinations, support and follow-up in the field of mental health and fight against isolation. However, according to the ministry, this crisis also highlighted “the need to better coordinate actions of the SSUs with health players on the territory”.
Since the beginning of the year, a consultation was implemented to improve the services and organise them better. Student associations, health services, institutions conferences, associations of university cities, CNOUS and the Caisse nationale d’assurance maladie (National Fund for Health Insurance) participated in the discussions.

Universal services for all students

In the wake of discussions, the decision to transform the SSUs emerged to turn them into health services truly for all students, whether in universities or in schools and institutions.

In addition to the broadening of the public allowed to access the services available, additional progresses are to be noted:

• a response to students’ needs, through territorial approach relying on a study of health needs of the field;
• an improved representation of students in the governance of new health services (construction of a health strategy, and definition of action plans depending on the needs of the territory);
• lawfulness of action in all fields of student health, whether it is mental, sexual or in relation with addictions and nutritional support.

To carry out these missions, SSEs will receive a budget of 8.2 million euros as early as 2023 (health staff and functioning means).

Towards a systemic approach of student health

France Universités, the main organisation of French higher education institutions bringing together all universities of the territory, salute the reform of health services. According to the organisation, this transformation reasserts that “health is at the heart of missions of student life in universities, which are responsible for its supervision and experiment improved missions”.

In addition to the improvement of these missions, France Universités is glad that, overall, the reform now puts “at the centre of priorities mental health, sexual health, an adapted physical activity, nutrition and the treatment of addictive behaviour, in other words a systemic approach of student health”.