Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
National Reference Metadata in Euro SDMX Metadata Structure (ESMS)
Compiling agency: Ministry of HealthDirectorate of research, evaluation, studies and statistics (Direction de la recherche, de l'évaluation, des études et des statistiques)
Ministry of Health Directorate of research, evaluation, studies and statistics (Direction de la recherche, de l'évaluation, des études et des statistiques)
1.2. Contact organisation unit
Sub-directorate of Health Statistics (Sous-direction Observation de la santé et de l'Assurance-maladie)
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
DREES
78-84 Rue Olivier de Serres
75015 Paris
FRANCE
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
24 April 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
24 April 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
24 April 2025
3.1. Data description
Statistics on healthcare non-expenditure provide information on healthcare human resources, healthcare facilities, and healthcare utilisation.
The people active in the healthcare sector (doctors, dentists, nurses, etc.) and their status (graduates, practising, migration of doctors and nurses, etc.);
The available healthcare technical resources and facilities (hospital beds, beds in residential care facilities, medical technology, etc.);
The health activities or patient contacts undertaken (hospital discharges, surgical procedures, ambulatory care data, etc.).
Annual national and regional data are provided in absolute numbers or as a rate of a relevant population.
Data are based mainly on administrative records (see section 18.1 ‘Source data’ for more information).
3.2. Classification system
For the collection data on healthcare non-expenditure, the classifications used in the System of Health Accounts (SHA) and its related set of International Classification for the Health Accounts (System of Health Accounts) are applied.
For Hospital discharges, the International Shortlist for Hospital Morbidity Tabulation (ISHMT) is used.
For Health Employment, the Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications apply (Directive - 2005/36 - EN - EUR-Lex (europa.eu)).
Definitions of mandatory variables are laid down in Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/2294.
Where possible, the statistics are separated by sex (male/female), age group and NUTS2 region.
National deviations: see Annex at the bottom of the page.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Public Health
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
The healthcare non-expenditure statistics describe the public health sector from a non-monetary perspective. The statistics explain the number or rate of different healthcare resources, facilities and utilisations. A wide range of indicators are collected from a multitude of sources and therefore, details pertaining to individual variables are given in the Annex.
Definitions of mandatory variables are laid down in Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/2294.
The data collection process was organised so that :
the Ministry of Health has no access to information directly identifying the individuals, except those from health professionals directories publicly available ;
all transmissions of information are made according to protocols respecting the state of the art for security ;
the servers of the Ministry of Health are secured and protected by state of the art security protocols. Especially, the list of persons having access to microdata files is restricted to authorized persons.
8.1. Release calendar
Main indicators data are disseminated according to a release calendar.
The statistics commit to professional ethics of the national public statistics services, whose principles—codified and shared at the European level—are professional independence, commitment to quality, reliability, accessibility, respect for statistical confidentiality, impartiality, and objectivity.
Statistics are mostly derived from :
administrative data (full access to exhaustive datawarehouses on health insurance reimbursements for resources and activities, social contributions and taxes for income and employment, health professional registers, etc.); these data benefit from regular control for administrative use;
surveys labelled by the Official Statistics Quality Label Committee that verifies their technical quality, following the same standards and requirements as those implemented for European harmonised surveys
11.2. Quality management - assessment
The quality of the data meets the requirements for accuracy, timeliness and punctuality, comparability and consistency.
When evaluating statistical indicators, the quality of the obtained information is analyzed. The results of the calculation are compared with the results of the previous year. Outstanding values of indicators are identified, analyzed and explained.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Main users of national healthcare data are researchers, policy makers, civil society, and the media. The data are shared with WHO, OECD and Eurostat.
All the requirements laid down in Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/2294 are fulfilled.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
The overall accuracy of healthcare non-expenditure data depends on the accuracy of the data used to compile them. In general, since mostly data are derived from administrative data sources or Official Statistical Service surveys, they are accurate.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable
14.1. Timeliness
Majority of final data for the year N is provided to international organisations at N+14 months. France has been however granted a derogation by the Implementing decision - 2022/2306 as concerns the timeliness of medical, dentistry and pharmacy graduates, up to N+21 months for reference years 2021-2023.
14.2. Punctuality
Nearly all data collections are able to meet the legal deadlines for transmission of data and metadata.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Data covers metropolitan France and overseas departments and regions (DROM), with some exceptions:
DROM are excluded from EHIS coverage, but since 2019 France has set up a complementary survey to extend its coverage to the DROM.
Other surveys exclude the coverage of Mayotte.
Administrative data coverage (health insurance reimbursements, payrolls) may be incomplete for Guyane and Mayotte.
15.2. Comparability - over time
On the whole, the data are comparable over time. See Annex at the bottom of the page for potential breaks in time series for each variable.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Most of the data reported is based on administrative data using common registers or survey data with national coverage, so most of the data is consistent. However, when other national data sources are used there can be differences in coverage between regions, which is stated for each variable in the Annex at the bottom of the page.
15.4. Coherence - internal
The variables, the definitions and the classification systems that are used are internally coherent with the definitions provided by the Joint Questionnaire («OECD Eurostat –Who-Europe Joint Questionnaire» on Non Economic Health Care Statistics).
In case of revision of published statistical series, the date and series concerned by the revisions are noted in the Annex at the bottom of the page.
18.1. Source data
See Annex
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annual
18.3. Data collection
Statistics on health non-expenditure are collected via many administrative or survey sources. Information on how data is collected for each source can be found on 10.6 ‘documentation on methodology’.
18.4. Data validation
Analysis of the comparability and compatibility of the aggregated data is performed. The statistical information is compared by experts with the statistical information of the previous period. The reasons for large changes are explained. If inaccuracies are identified, statistics are corrected and the validity of the data is confirmed.
18.5. Data compilation
Individual data is compiled in aggregates according to the definitions and guidelines provided by the International Organisations.
FTE calculations depend on the available data on head counts, contracts, or paid monthly average, and the estimation method is presented for each indicator in the Annex at the bottom of the page.
Statistics on healthcare non-expenditure provide information on healthcare human resources, healthcare facilities, and healthcare utilisation.
The people active in the healthcare sector (doctors, dentists, nurses, etc.) and their status (graduates, practising, migration of doctors and nurses, etc.);
The available healthcare technical resources and facilities (hospital beds, beds in residential care facilities, medical technology, etc.);
The health activities or patient contacts undertaken (hospital discharges, surgical procedures, ambulatory care data, etc.).
Annual national and regional data are provided in absolute numbers or as a rate of a relevant population.
Data are based mainly on administrative records (see section 18.1 ‘Source data’ for more information).
24 April 2025
The healthcare non-expenditure statistics describe the public health sector from a non-monetary perspective. The statistics explain the number or rate of different healthcare resources, facilities and utilisations. A wide range of indicators are collected from a multitude of sources and therefore, details pertaining to individual variables are given in the Annex.
Definitions of mandatory variables are laid down in Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/2294.
National changes of statistical concepts and national definitions deviating from Regulation (EU) 2022/2294: see Annex at the bottom of the page.
Registered health professionals or health care facility categories.
All health care staff
All available beds or equipment in hospitals or in nursing and residential care facilities
All discharges or procedures performed in all hospitals
Complete national territory
Calendar year; depending on the data set this can be annual average data or data as reported by 31st December.
The overall accuracy of healthcare non-expenditure data depends on the accuracy of the data used to compile them. In general, since mostly data are derived from administrative data sources or Official Statistical Service surveys, they are accurate.
The data are published in absolute numbers or rate per inhabitants.
Individual data is compiled in aggregates according to the definitions and guidelines provided by the International Organisations.
FTE calculations depend on the available data on head counts, contracts, or paid monthly average, and the estimation method is presented for each indicator in the Annex at the bottom of the page.
See Annex
Yearly
Majority of final data for the year N is provided to international organisations at N+14 months. France has been however granted a derogation by the Implementing decision - 2022/2306 as concerns the timeliness of medical, dentistry and pharmacy graduates, up to N+21 months for reference years 2021-2023.
Data covers metropolitan France and overseas departments and regions (DROM), with some exceptions:
DROM are excluded from EHIS coverage, but since 2019 France has set up a complementary survey to extend its coverage to the DROM.
Other surveys exclude the coverage of Mayotte.
Administrative data coverage (health insurance reimbursements, payrolls) may be incomplete for Guyane and Mayotte.
On the whole, the data are comparable over time. See Annex at the bottom of the page for potential breaks in time series for each variable.
