Sociétés coopératives hospitalières de médecins are professional practice associations whose purpose is to practice medicine jointly as health establishments as defined by articles L. 6111-1 et seq, by pooling the medical activity of its members.
They are governed by law no. 47-1775 of 10 September 1947 on the status of cooperatives and are subject to the provisions of this chapter and, insofar as they are not contrary to this chapter, to the provisions of articles L. 210-1 to L. 247-9 of the French Commercial Code.
They are formed between specialists or general practitioners who are duly registered with the council of doctors, or between doctors and other healthcare professionals.
The members are free to choose each other and, unless otherwise provided for in this code, have equal rights regardless of the size of the share capital held by each of them.