Long perceived as a promising but imperfect tool, the state-backed digital health record is attempting a fresh start. Launched in 2022 after the failure of the shared medical record, Mon espace santé (My Health Space) now seeks to become integrated into the daily practices of healthcare professionals and patients. The objective is clear: to transform an institutional platform into a medical reflex.
The Ministry of Health and the National Health Insurance Fund recently revised their strategy. Rather than imposing its use through coercion, they are focusing on concrete improvements to the tool. The criticisms from healthcare professionals have been heard. The perceived lack of user-friendliness, the cumbersome double data entry, and insufficient integration with professional software were all obstacles that limited adoption. The proposed financial penalty for practitioners who were inactive on the platform, planned for the end of 2025, exacerbated tensions before being abandoned.
The roadmap now prioritizes technical simplification. The goal is to automate the sending of medical documents, prescriptions, hospitalization reports, and test results, so that updating the patient file is no longer perceived as an additional burden.
A still incomplete ramp-up
Recent figures demonstrate progress. More than half of all health documents are now uploaded to My Health Space. Approximately 90% of hospitals regularly contribute to the platform, and nearly two out of three general practitioners upload documents. This foundation represents a significant shift compared to the system's hesitant beginnings.
However, the digital record remains partially incomplete. The results of biological analyses and, especially, medical imaging examinations are not yet systematically accessible. Yet, it is precisely this data that structures the monitoring of chronic diseases and facilitates coordination between specialists. Without it, the digital record struggles to reach its full clinical value.
On the patient side, activation is progressing but remains uneven. Approximately 24 million profiles are open, representing slightly more than one in three insured individuals. However, authorities are observing a ripple effect as healthcare professionals adopt the tool and encourage their patients to use it.
Aiming for 2027 to change scale
The next step involves a massive modernization of the software used in both community and hospital settings. Between 2026 and mid-2028, the IT systems of doctors, healthcare facilities, and radiology practices must be upgraded to make data access smoother and more user-friendly. Other healthcare professionals, such as midwives, will be gradually integrated.
The stated goal is to reach 40 million activated accounts by the end of 2027. Beyond the numbers, the challenge is cultural. The aim is to make the digital health record a commonplace tool, consulted almost automatically during a consultation, much like opening a paper file in the past. Success will depend less on institutional communication than on concrete experience in the field. If "My Health Space" manages to become invisible because it is so readily available, then the digital health record could finally become the norm.
