The university health center joins the France Santé network

[Article] - Published on May 28, 2026 in Environmental Issues and Social Responsibility, Health, Social Issues & Disabilities

Since early April, the University Health Center (CSU) atUM among the first university health facilities to receive the France Santé certification. This recognition brings it into a national network that is expected to eventually include more than 5,000 health facilities. For students, this certification represents another step toward easier access to quality care.

It all began with an announcement by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu in September 2025, promising the creation of a network of 5,000 France Santé centers by 2027. The stated goal is clear: to ensure that every resident has access to a general practitioner within 30 minutes of their home and within 48 hours. To create this network, local healthcare facilities, medical practices, health centers, and clinics were invited by regional health agencies to apply, with the goal of certifying 2,000 facilities by the summer of 2026.

“As soon as this certification was announced, we jumped right in,” explains Jérémy Estèves, administrative director of the university health center. “This certification, backed by the government, should help the center gain credibility and visibility, particularly when referring students to private practitioners or hospital departments.”

Five criteria for obtaining certification

To apply, the CSU team had to meet five specific criteria. The first required ensuring access to at least one general practitioner and one nurse. The center has five general practitioners, and while it does not have an in-house nurse, it can rely on the University’s preventive medicine department as well as the network of independent nurses from the regional professional health community (CPTS), with which an agreement was signed earlier this year.

The second criterion concerned the absence of fee surcharges, a condition met by the CSU, which operates a full third-party payment system. The third and fourth criteria concerned geographic and time accessibility. “The center is open Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and is conveniently located for students along tram lines 1 and 5 in the Boutonnet neighborhood,” explains the administrative manager. Finally, the last requirement: the turnaround time for care. For unscheduled care, the CSU guarantees that it can offer a general practice appointment within 48 hours.

Two agreements to improve access to healthcare

This accreditation comes on top of two other achievements made by the center since the beginning of 2026. First, a strengthened partnership with the Hérault Primary Health Insurance Fund, formalized by a framework agreement signed on January 8. The stated goal is to facilitate access to benefits and healthcare for all students, thereby combating the underutilization of healthcare services.

Specifically, this agreement provides for the provision of information resources, training for professionals, and a dedicated digital platform. “This initiative enables the CSU to directly assist students with their healthcare needs, particularly when their circumstances require them to apply for the Solidarity-Based Supplementary Health Insurance, thereby helping them avoid having to pay certain costs out of pocket,” explains Jérémy Estèves. The center can also apply for specific funding for costly medical care and assist international students in accessing their benefits.

In February, the university health center also signed an agreement with the regional health professional association (CPTS). This partnership expands students’ access to a network of professionals, including nurses, physical therapists, general practitioners, psychologists, speech therapists, and pharmacists, among others. For the CSU, “this cooperation should increase career guidance opportunities and help reduce the number of people who forgo care,” concludes its administrative director.