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The local hospital was brought back into the spotlight in 2018 thanks to the national strategy “Ma Santé 2022.” It is the result of a lengthy history that can be traced back to Decree No. 59-957 of August 3, 1959, which created the rural hospital. As time went on, these establishments were transformed into local hospitals in 1972, then disappeared from the official nomenclature with the HPST law in 2009, before reappearing in 2016 under their current name and having their missions strengthened by “Ma Santé 2022.” We will take a look at what a local hospital is today in the light of recent laws, but considering it from a historical perspective will show that little in this concept is new. We will then look at the place of these hospitals in the regional health network. Lastly, we will try to conclude on the conditions of success of this reform, once again putting forward the local hospital as a relevant tool in response to the current health problems.