France: SESAM-Vitale Card

SESAM-Vitale is one of the biggest e-Health schemes in the world along with those in Germany and Asia, with almost 1 billion medical expense claim forms being treated every year. Up and running since 1998, the SESAM-Vitale system links healthcare professionals with the compulsory health insurance administration. The new microprocessor cards will increase the system’s possibilities for data processing and secure applications.
 

The first generation Carte Vitale is a family social security card that only contains information already included on the paper social security card.
 

Version 2 of SESAM-Vitale, which is currently being deployed, offers the current standards in terms of security and will enable stronger identification of social security beneficiaries. In March, the French government announced the deployment of the Carte Vitale 2, with a first roll-out phase in Brittany, spreading to the rest of the country where, by 2011, every citizen aged 16 years and over and affiliated to the social security system will have their own health card.
 

This Carte Vitale 2 will not just allow for a simplification of administrative procedures, increase transaction security and speed up reimbursements, but will also contain considerable additional information like details of attending physicians, people to contact in case of emergency, authorizations for organ donation and top-up insurance policy details. Furthermore, the Carte Vitale 2 will include a photograph of the insured person and conforms to the latest Identification, Authentication and Signature (IAS) specifications.

In addition, the inclusion of a digital photograph – facial biometry – will help slash fraud. In total, 59 million cards will be issued between now and 2010.

 

In addition, the inclusion of a digital photograph – facial biometry – will help slash fraud. In total, 59 million cards will be issued between now and 2010.

The 226,774 healthcare professionals who use the system for data exchange include:

• 83% of general practitioners,
• 99% of radiologists,
• 80% of masseurs-physical therapists,
• 96% of pharmacists.