Interview featuring Benjamin Montmartin, Director of the Chair
The Université Côte d’Azur and SKEMA Business School have partnered to create a Chair for Prevention and Access to Healthcare, recognised as an Initiative of Excellence (IDEX UCA JEDI). This multidisciplinary initiative focuses on tackling social and territorial health inequalities in France.
Today, we speak with Benjamin Montmartin, Professor of Econometrics and Data Science at SKEMA Business School and Director of the Chair, to learn more about this impactful initiative.
Understanding the Chair’s Mission
What is the main mission of the Chair for Prevention and Access to Healthcare?
Our mission is to identify and address the key factors influencing healthcare access and prevention in France. We focus on two primary areas: first, we analyse how the economic behaviour of healthcare professionals and the organisation of the system impact patient access. Second, we study how individual factors (genetics, lifestyle) interact with external influences (socioeconomic conditions, environment).
Along with my colleagues Jean Dellamonica, Catherine Laffineur, Pierre-Alexis Gauci and Barbara Seitz-Polski, we aim to produce actionable research that informs policymakers, healthcare professionals, and the public to drive tangible improvements in public health.
The Healthcare Access Observatory: A Game-Changer
Could you tell us more about the Healthcare Access Observatory?
The Healthcare Access Observatory, launched in 2020, is a pioneering initiative designed to analyse healthcare access at a highly granular geographical level, providing deeper insights into local realities. Powered by an advanced data platform leveraging artificial intelligence, it produces detailed health indicators that reveal patterns in the distribution and accessibility of healthcare services.
A key goal of the observatory is to make part of this valuable data publicly available through Open Data. This ensures that not only researchers and healthcare professionals, but also local authorities and the general public can access the information. By doing so, we hope to inform decision-making and drive policy changes that will ultimately improve healthcare access throughout the country.
The observatory serves multiple functions: it compares territories to assess how well healthcare offerings meet local needs and refines our understanding of medical deserts. Additionally, we aim to publish an annual reference report on the evolution of healthcare access, shedding light on both the challenges we face and the progress we are making. The observatory also develops tools for governance and planning, such as visual indicators and forecasting models, to help local authorities manage public health policies effectively and assist healthcare professionals in tailoring services to the specific needs of their regions.
Since its launch, the observatory has already responded to important needs raised by both public and private sector partners, and we are eager to continue working toward meaningful change in improving healthcare access across France.
The Journey and Impact of the Initiative
How did this initiative start, and what impact has it had so far?
I began researching the French healthcare system in September 2020, with internal funding from SKEMA Business School. This support enabled me to connect with key stakeholders and focus on critical issues like medical deserts. My work has led to several influential studies with UFC-Que Choisir, including:
📄 2024 Study on Financial Burden of Extra Medical Fees
📄 2023 Report on Healthcare Divide
📄 2023 Report on Healthcare Access Challenges
📄 2022 Report on Medical Deserts and Regional Disparities
These studies have deepened our understanding of healthcare inequalities and provided evidence-based insights that policymakers can use to drive reform.
Transforming Research into Action
What do you hope the Chair and its research will ultimately achieve?
At the heart of our work are two simple goals: first, make healthcare more accessible and equitable for all, regardless of location or socioeconomic status. Second, promote prevention as a vital strategy for reducing the prevalence of chronic diseases which are among today’s most pressing public health challenges.
We aim to provide data-driven insights to help policymakers design targeted interventions; enable healthcare providers to optimise service delivery based on regional needs; promote a culture of evidence-based decision-making in public health.
By making our findings accessible through Open Data, we empower communities, healthcare professionals, and policymakers to take informed actions that can improve healthcare delivery.
Surprising Findings and Future Directions
What has been the most surprising discovery in your research so far?
One of the biggest surprises has been to highlight how healthcare system and especially physicians’ economic choices influence the persistence of local disparities, even in a country with a well-established healthcare system like France.
We often think of “medical deserts” as a problem of distance to hospitals, clinics or physicians, but our research shows it is much more than that. Prices of healthcare services, physicians’ choice in terms of practices (participation or not to the public health system), the conformity to social norms all play a major role.
These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted policies beyond just increasing the number of healthcare facilities and professionals.
What’s Next for the Chair and the Healthcare Access Observatory?
What are the next steps for this initiative?
Expanding the Observatory’s Data Capabilities – We aim to refine our models and provide even more precise, actionable insights to support local decision-making.
Strengthening Policy Engagement – We are working on closer collaborations with policymakers to ensure our research directly influences healthcare reforms.
Enhancing Community and Stakeholder Involvement – We plan to increase engagement with local governments, healthcare professionals, and patient organisations to drive meaningful change.
Ultimately, our goal is to foster a healthcare system that is more responsive, efficient, and equitable for all.
Get Involved
📢 Are you a policymaker, researcher, or healthcare professional interested in collaborating?
We welcome partnerships and discussions that can help transform healthcare accessibility in France. Get in touch to explore opportunities for collaboration!
🔗 Access our latest reports and publications here
Studies and reports
📄 2024 Study on Financial Burden of Extra Medical Fees
📄 2023 Report on Healthcare Divide
📄 2023 Report on Healthcare Access Challenges
📄 2022 Report on Medical Deserts and Regional Disparities
Scientific publications on Physician Behaviour & Environmental Impact on Health
📄 Montmartin B. & Lambotte M.,” Competition vs Conformity: a structural analysis of the failure of a new pricing scheme proposed to physicians”. Work in progress.
📄 Montmartin B., Gauci P-A, Laffineur C, Delamonica J. & Seitz-Polski B., “How patients’ location influence success of ART: a multidimensional study”. Work in progress.
📄 Montmartin B. & Herrera M. (2023), “Spatial dependence in physicians’ prices and additional fees: Evidence from France”, Journal of Health Economics, Volume 88, 102724, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhealeco.2023.102724
📄 Allouche J, Cremoni M, Brglez V, Graça D, Benzaken S, Zorzi K, Fernandez C, Esnault V, Levraut M, Oppo S, Jacquinot M, Armengaud A, Pradier C, Bailly L, Seitz-Polski B. (2022), “Air pollution exposure induces a decrease in type II interferon response: A paired cohort study”, EBioMedicine, Volume 85, 104291, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.104291
📄 Cremoni M, Agbekodo S, Teisseyre M, Zorzi K, Brglez V, Benzaken S, Esnault V, Planchard JH, Seitz-Polski B., (2022) “Toxic Occupational Exposures and Membranous Nephropathy”, Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, Volume 17(11), p.1609-1619. https://doi.org/10.2215/CJN.02930322