How to Obtain PECAN Reimbursement Approval in France for Digital Therapeutics and Healthcare Apps
French Market Access Guide for Digital Therapeutics (DTx)
France has become one of Europe's most attractive markets for digital therapeutics (DTx), healthcare apps, and and Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) solutions thanks to the PECAN reimbursement pathway. Designed to accelerate patient access to innovative digital health solutions,
PECAN allows eligible digital medical devices to obtain temporary reimbursement in France while generating additional clinical and organizational evidence.
For digital health companies seeking market access in France, understanding the PECAN approval process is essential. This page explains the eligibility criteria, application process, evidence requirements, and key success factors for obtaining PECAN reimbursement approval in France.
What Are the Eligibility Requirements for PECAN Reimbursement in France?
One of the most common questions asked by digital health companies is:
Who can apply for PECAN reimbursement in France?
PECAN (Prise en Charge Anticipée Numérique) is intended for innovative digital medical devices, including digital therapeutics and remote monitoring solutions. To qualify, the solution must generally:
- Be classified as a medical device under applicable European regulations.
- Hold a valid CE marking.
- Demonstrate an innovative character compared with existing solutions.
- Address a medical need that is not adequately covered by current reimbursement mechanisms.
- Meet French requirements related to security, interoperability, and data protection.
Companies should also remember that reimbursement readiness goes beyond regulatory compliance.
The healthcare app must be adapted to the French market, including patient-facing content, healthcare professional information, safety communications, and user experience.
A common mistake is assuming that a product approved in another European country is automatically ready for evaluation in France. In practice, linguistic, cultural, and healthcare system differences can affect both regulatory review and future adoption.
How to Apply for PECAN Approval for a Digital Therapeutics Solution
Another frequently asked question is:
How do I get a healthcare app approved under the French PECAN reimbursement pathway?
The PECAN application process involves submitting a dossier for evaluation by French authorities. The dossier typically includes:
- Product description and intended use.
- Clinical data and supporting evidence.
- Information regarding cybersecurity and data protection.
- Interoperability documentation.
- Health-economic and organizational considerations.
- Post-market evidence generation plans.
The evaluation focuses on whether the solution is sufficiently innovative and whether early reimbursement could benefit patients and the healthcare system.
Preparation is critical. Before submitting a dossier, companies should ensure that all documentation, user interfaces, patient materials, and healthcare professional resources are fully aligned with French expectations.
This is particularly important for international companies entering France for the first time. Inconsistent terminology, poorly localized patient journeys, or unclear safety messaging can create unnecessary friction during evaluation and implementation.
What Clinical Evidence Is Needed to Secure PECAN Reimbursement for Healthcare Apps in France?
A question frequently raised by market access managers is:
Can a digital therapeutic or a medical app obtain reimbursement before clinical evidence is fully established?
PECAN was specifically designed to support innovative solutions that still require additional evidence generation. However, applicants must already provide sufficient data to demonstrate the potential clinical value of the technology.
Evidence may include:
- Clinical studies.
- Real-world evidence.
- Pilot programs.
- Usability and patient engagement data.
- Organizational impact assessments.
The strength of the evidence package often determines how successfully a company can justify temporary reimbursement while additional data are collected. Companies should also ensure that clinical documentation is clearly understandable for French reviewers and stakeholders.
Terminology consistency, accurate medical language, and coherent patient communication can help reduce ambiguity and facilitate evaluation.
As digital health reimbursement becomes increasingly evidence-driven, clinical quality and documentation quality are becoming equally important.
What Happens After Obtaining PECAN Reimbursement Approval in France?
PECAN is not intended to be a permanent reimbursement mechanism. Instead, it provides a temporary pathway that allows manufacturers to generate the evidence needed for long-term reimbursement discussions. Following approval, companies are expected to:
1
Collect additional clinical and real-world evidence
2
Monitor patient outcomes
3
Demonstrate organizational and economic value
4
Prepare for future reimbursement evaluations
The ultimate objective is often integration into France's long-term reimbursement framework. This means companies should view PECAN not as the final destination but as part of a broader market access strategy. Success depends not only on innovation and evidence generation but also on the ability to deploy a solution that is fully adapted to the French healthcare ecosystem.
Questions such as
"Is the patient journey optimized for French users?",
"Are healthcare professionals receiving clear information?", and
"Is the product documentation aligned with local expectations?" can become increasingly important as adoption expands.
The Path to PECAN Reimbursement Success
PECAN has created a valuable opportunity for digital therapeutics and healthcare app developers seeking early reimbursement in France. However, obtaining approval requires more than innovation alone. Companies must demonstrate regulatory compliance, clinical value, cybersecurity readiness, and a strong evidence-generation strategy.
Equally important is ensuring that the product and supporting documentation are adapted to the French healthcare environment. From patient-facing content and healthcare professional materials to terminology consistency and user experience, market readiness can play a significant role in supporting a successful PECAN strategy.
For digital health companies looking to enter the French market, a well-prepared reimbursement dossier combined with a localized and deployment-ready solution can significantly strengthen the path toward PECAN approval and long-term reimbursement success.
Planning to submit a digital therapeutic or healthcare app for reimbursement in France?
I help digital health companies prepare for the French market through specialized French Market Readiness Audits and Consulting for MedTech and HealthTech Companies, linguistic quality assurance, and pre-submission reviews designed to identify potential risks before regulatory evaluations.






