On June 29, 2026, Chinese media outlet Yicai reported on the reasons for the delay in air conditioning installation in French hospitals.

The article introduced that with the arrival of June, France has been experiencing consecutive days of extreme heat, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in various regions, threatening public health. Amid intensifying debate over the installation of air conditioning in hospitals, it was reported that Health Minister Rist announced on the 28th that 30,000 air conditioners and spot coolers had been urgently ordered for hospitals nationwide and would be sequentially deployed within a few days.

It also mentioned that Prime Minister Lecornu announced a plan to invest 6 billion euros (approximately 1.1 trillion yen) in hospital construction over 10 years until 2035, and within that framework, a policy to double the budget for building energy renovation to 600 million euros (approximately 110 billion yen).

Furthermore, according to financial and infrastructure data published by the Directorate for Research, Studies, Evaluation and Statistics (DREES) of the French Ministry of Health, it was pointed out that as of 2023, the aging rate of hospital buildings in France had reached 58.5%. It noted that due to aging, insulation performance is low, leading to poor heating and cooling efficiency, and 75% of public hospitals are operating at a deficit, making investment in renovation difficult.

The article explained that even as temperatures in hospital wards exceed 30 degrees Celsius due to heatwaves, increasing health risks for patients, Western European countries, including France, have a strong resistance to the introduction of air conditioning due to concerns about electricity consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and the heat island effect caused by outdoor units. It also reported that a public opinion survey conducted in France in 2021 showed that 48% opposed air conditioning installation, considering it harmful to the environment, and former Prime Minister Attal and others have argued that “improving building insulation design should be prioritized over increasing air conditioner installations.”

Furthermore, it referred to a case where the air conditioning installation rate in patient rooms is limited to 50% in the latest large-scale medical center under construction in Nantes, western France. Although rooftop greenery has been adopted as an alternative to air conditioning, and simulations have shown an effect of lowering the indoor temperature by about 8 degrees Celsius compared to the outside temperature, it introduced professional analysis results stating that if the outdoor temperature reaches 40 degrees Celsius, the indoor temperature will exceed 30 degrees Celsius, thus limiting the cooling effect during extreme heat. (Edited/Translated by Kawajiri)