The purpose of the permanent care service provided for in Article L. 6314-1 is to meet the need for unscheduled care:
1° Every day from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. ;
2° Sundays and public holidays from 8am to 8pm;
3° Depending on the needs of the population, assessed on the basis of medical activity and existing care provision: Saturdays from midday, Mondays preceding public holidays, Fridays and Saturdays following public holidays.
To this end, the region is divided into permanent care territories, the boundaries of which are set by the Director General of the Regional Health Agency, in accordance with the organisational principles defined in the regional specifications referred to in article R. 6315-6.
On-call care is provided by doctors practising in doctors’ surgeries, health centres, health clusters and health centres, as well as by doctors practising in on-call care associations.
It may be provided, in accordance with the procedures set out in this section, by army doctors practising in the medical centres mentioned in article L. 6326-1.
It may also be carried out by any other doctor who has retained clinical practice. The Conseil départemental de l’ordre des médecins (Departmental Medical Council) certifies that these doctors are able to take part in the permanent care service and informs the Agence régionale de santé (Regional Health Agency) accordingly. This participation is formalised by an agreement between the doctor and the director general of the regional health agency, which is sent to the departmental medical council.
Depending on the demand for care and the existing supply of doctors, the duty to provide round-the-clock care may also be carried out by health establishments, under conditions set by the regional health agency.