PARIS, Nov 26 (APM) - The bodies that oversee the French economic committee for health products (CEPS) have drawn up a draft decree, seen by APM, to improve the supervision of the committee and facilitate its operations.

The text is expected to be signed by the prime minister and the relevant ministers (finance and public accounts; social affairs, health and women’s rights; economy, industry and the digital sector).

In particular, the draft text recommends a quorum - a minimum number of members legally required during the committee’s deliberations - the government says in the summary. Deliberations shall not be valid unless at least six voting members are present.

In parallel, there shall be the possibility of appointing two deputies for some CEPS members: In this case, the two representatives of national health insurance bodies and the representative of the national union of complementary health insurance institutions - UNOCAM.

The existing text allows the following directors, or their respective representatives, to participate in the work of CEPS: the director of the Department of Social Security (DSS); the director general of the French health directorate (DGS); the director general of competition, consumer affairs and fraud control; and the director general of competitiveness, industry and services (now director general of businesses).

The following requirement is deleted in the proposed draft decree: “Directors of central public authorities may only be represented by members of their department occupying a function at least equal to that of assistant director-general. Representatives of national health insurance bodies shall occupy a function at least equal to that of deputy director.”

It says this is “to facilitate their regular participation in the meetings of this authority,” the government specifies.

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