On the eve of the covid-19 epidemic, the overall financial position of public hospitals appeared to be deteriorating, with recurring losses (€558 million in 2019). Two investment plans, Hôpital 2007 and Hôpital 2012, had led to a tripling of financial debt to €30 billion in 2019. The interest burden of the debt and the declining profitability of the operating cycle had put a strain on their ability to finance new investments. To avoid a spiral of excessive debt, public hospitals have underinvested over the past ten years, which has led to their buildings and equipment becoming increasingly outdated.
