How well are the French ? What are the most important

health-related issues for children of under 15 years of

age, for young and older adults, for the elderly ? What

geographically and socially based inequalities affect

health status ? How can patients and users of the health

care system-members of the public-be brought into

the making of decisions that affect them in this literally

vital field ? Is our health care system well organised ? And

is it working in an efficient and democratic way ? How are

questions of resource allocation settled ?

Health in France 2002 is the third in a series of official

reports (the previous ones were published in 1994 and

1998) compiled by the High Committee on Public Health

to analyse health status in the country, with an in-depth

review of the strengths and weaknesses of the system

as a whole.

This report combines a critical analysis of the current

health care system with a review of key current and

projected health-related issues, focusing on public health

targets identified from as broad and all-inclusive a

perspective as possible.