Section 3: Free information, screening and diagnostic centres

Pursuant to Article L. 3121-2, the following may be approved as free centres for information, screening and diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus infections, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections: 1° Health establishments ; 2° Departments or organisations reporting to a local authority and carrying out a preventive health care mission; 3° The health centres referred to in Article L. 6323-1 ; 4° Associations governed by the provisions of the law…

I. – The application for authorisation as a free information, screening and diagnostic centre is sent by the head of the managing body to the director general of the regional health agency for the region in which the centre is located, together with a dossier, the content of which is defined by order of the Minister for Health. II. – This application specifies how the centre is to be organised…

Accreditation is granted for a period of three years by the Director General of the Regional Health Agency within six months of receipt of the application, on the basis of the documents in the file accompanying the application and, where applicable, the findings of an on-site visit by an official referred to inArticle L. 1421-1 of the Public Health Code, and taking into account all of the following factors :…

The application for renewal of authorisation is sent by the head of the managing body to the Director General of the Regional Health Agency no later than six months before the current authorisation expires. Renewal is granted, for a period of five years, by the Director General of the Regional Health Agency within six months of receipt of the application, in accordance with the conditions defined in Article D. 3121-23…

Failure by the Director General of the Regional Health Agency to respond within six months of receipt of the applications for authorisation and renewal referred to in Articles D. 3121-23 and D. 3121-23-1 shall be deemed to constitute acceptance of these applications.

The Regional Health Agency is responsible for the strategic planning, coordination, monitoring and analysis of the activities of accredited centres. The agency may entrust the operational implementation of the tasks of coordinating, monitoring and analysing activities to an accredited centre mentioned in article D. 3121-21, to a coordination committee for the fight against human immunodeficiency virus infection, or to another competent body.

I.-The free information, screening and diagnosis centre must inform the general director of the regional health agency of any changes to its organisational and operational procedures after it has been accredited. II – Before 31st March each year, the centre provides the Director General of the Regional Health Agency and the National Public Health Agency with an activity and performance report for the previous year, in accordance with a model…

Each year, the Director General of the Regional Health Agency sends the Minister for Health and the Prefect of the département an updated list of the free information, screening and diagnostic centres approved under this section.