Exceptional State aid for struggling sanitary transport providers

The State is introducing direct aid for accredited sanitary transport companies weakened by low margins. Decree No. 2026-1038 of November 10, 2026, signed by the Minister of Health and the Minister of Action and Public Accounts, was published in the Official Journal of the French Republic on November 11, 2026 (JORF No. 0264, NOR: SFHS2629661D). It sets the eligibility conditions, the scale per vehicle, and the schedule for a scheme managed by the Agence de services et de paiement (Services and Payment Agency).

Strict targeting of companies in difficulty

The text reserves the aid for companies established in France engaged in sanitary transport within the meaning of Articles L. 6312-1 and L. 6312-2 of the Public Health Code, and falling under code 86.90A of the French activity nomenclature approved by the decree of December 26, 2007. A company that derives more than 50% of its value added from ambulance activity, supported by documentation, remains eligible.

The access conditions are cumulative:

• a “current result before tax on turnover” ratio less than or equal to 5%, established over the last closed financial year or a subsequent financial situation, certified by a chartered accountant and finalized no later than the date of the application submission;
• certified flows within the meaning of amendment No. 11 to the national convention for private sanitary transporters and health insurance, approved by the order of May 3, 2023, and the memorandum of understanding on the control of sanitary transport expenditures approved by the order of September 29, 2025;
• by July 31, 2026, having either invoiced an urgent sanitary transport carried out between January 1 and June 30, 2026, as part of the ambulance duty provided for in Articles R. 6312-18 et seq. of the Public Health Code, or received at least one supplement to the conventional minimum guaranteed income over the same period.

In addition, there is a financial probity condition: the company must not have unpaid tax or social security debts as of December 31, 2024, unless payment has been made or a payment plan is in progress. Tax debts less than or equal to 1,500 euros are neutralized, as are those subject to litigation without a final decision as of September 1, 2026.

A flat-rate scale per operated vehicle

Only category A, C, and D vehicles referred to in Article R. 6312-8 of the Public Health Code are eligible for aid. On the date of the application submission, they must belong to the company or be under a long-term lease or lease-purchase agreement, be effectively operated for sanitary transport, and meet the technical requirements of Articles L. 6312-1 to L. 6312-5 and R. 6312-6 to R. 6312-23-2 of the same code.

The amount is calculated by multiplying the number of operated vehicles by a unit amount:

• 1,200 euros for a category A or C vehicle;
• 400 euros for a category D vehicle.

The payment is a one-time payment and the number of selected vehicles cannot exceed the number of commissioning authorizations held by the company under Article L. 6312-4. These sums can be combined with the aid established by the decrees of April 17, 2026, and July 3, 2026, and remain subject to European de minimis rules: Regulation (EU) 2023/2832 of December 13, 2023, for services of general economic interest, or, in the absence of separation of activities, Regulation (EU) 2023/2831 of December 13, 2023.

A single window and a six-week window

The Agence de services et de paiement (Service and Payment Agency) processes, notifies, and pays the aid in the name and on behalf of the State, by virtue of an agreement concluded with the Minister in charge of health. It collects data, transmits information relating to the notified aid, recovers overpayments where applicable, and handles complaints and appeals. The notification takes the form of a unilateral decision.

Companies must register with the agency between November 17 and December 31, 2026, and keep available all documents certifying their eligibility and that of their vehicles.

A short-term breath of fresh air

For SMEs in sanitary transport, the challenge is twofold: cash flow and the recognition of the role played in ambulance services and urgent medical assistance. However, the scale remains modest — 1,200 euros at most per vehicle, one time only — and is conditional on a file certified by a chartered accountant, which imposes a certain administrative effort on the smallest companies. Compliance with the registration schedule, ending December 31, 2026, will be decisive in capturing a fund whose volume will ultimately depend on the number of eligible vehicles declared.

Source: Official Journal of the French Republic, JORF No. 0264 of November 11, 2026, Decree No. 2026-1038 of November 10, 2026, regarding the allocation of exceptional aid to approved sanitary transport companies with ambulances and light sanitary vehicles, NOR: SFHS2629661D.