The health and medical-social sector covers everything related to individual health, as well as medical-social services and facilities.
There are approximately 3,000 healthcare facilities (both public and private) in France.
In 2018, the healthcare and medical-social sector employed around 1.2 million people.
As this sector is constantly evolving, standards are numerous and must constantly adapt to changes in society.
They may concern drugs, medical equipment or hospital equipment, but also the smooth running of a hospital (quality approach, health and safety in the workplace, risk management, etc.) or any other healthcare establishment.
One of the most popular standards, NF EN ISO 14971, deals precisely with the application of risk management to medical devices. Medical devices are at the heart of numerous standards designed to ensure their ongoing quality: NF EN 455 covers disposable gloves, while NF EN ISO 10993 deals with the biological evaluation of medical devices in general.
Finally, another example, NF EN ISO 22367 will concern medical analysis laboratories and provides a process enabling them to identify and manage risks to patients, laboratory staff and service providers associated with the laboratory.
Standards in the healthcare and medical-social sector concern a wide range of professions, including :
- Doctors.
- Nurses.
- Nurses' aides.
- Anesthetist.
- Social service assistant.
- Educator.