france is to compensate people when suffer financial challenges as a result of three belts of nuclear weapons abuse , its government says . it was time to investigate health complaints caused by staff or took part in tests , health minister kouchner douste said . mr philippe told le figaro france should be " true to its conscience " . france carried out more than 200 tests , firstly in algeria and later in western polynesia , between 1966 and 1996 . the fillon said about 150 , 000 health and military workers were " theoretically affected " by the tests . mr hervé said an independent commission would examine claims on a decision - by - case basis . he confirmed that 10m documents ( $ 13 . 6m ; £9 . 3m ) had already been earmarked to compensate patients .
France carried out more than 200 nuclear tests during 30 years.