The Prime Minister wants to strengthen local healthcare services

Since the publication, on August 4, of a decree modifying the caps on commercial discounts granted to pharmacies, community pharmacists have expressed their deep concerns regarding the viability of their economic model. The meeting resulted in a balanced agreement, combining immediate responses and structuring commitments for the future of pharmacies. Thus, local healthcare services will be strengthened through the support of public health missions in 900 rural pharmacies and fragile territories. Additionally, the Government is suspending the application of the decree for a minimum of 3 months, and the discount rate on generics returns to 40%. In parallel, a mission has been launched to analyze the financial flows in the drug distribution channel.

LOCAL HEALTHCARE

Local healthcare services are strengthened through this agreement. Pharmacists will be able to perform rapid diagnostic tests for angina or cystitis, with the prescription of a treatment if necessary, renew oral contraceptive prescriptions up to six months after their expiration, and extend the renewal of stable chronic treatments (such as hypertension or diabetes) for up to three months, to avoid any disruption in care. This memorandum of understanding marks a concrete step forward in transforming the role of pharmacies, integrating them into the response to local health needs. Regarding this agreement, Marion Cros, a pharmacist in Hyères, welcomes the decision: "I welcome the decision to pause the recently established decree. This measure, which had been taken unilaterally and without real consultation, would have had dramatic consequences on our profession and on the organization of our pharmacies. Every day, pharmacists must adapt to the constant evolution of the profession. We accept this and are ready to take on new missions. However, these require time, resources, and above all, staff. Yet, faced with the multiplication of tasks imposed without anticipation or support, our teams find themselves in great difficulty."

REALISM AND CONSULTATION

The young woman adds: "What we are asking for is not to reduce the ambition of the reforms, but to place them within a framework of realism and consultation. Because as it stands, our ability to properly carry out our public health mission is being undermined. Finally, it would be desirable for control efforts to focus on the real sources of imbalance in our healthcare system, meaning the massive fraud linked to Vitale cards in circulation, the abusive access of people living abroad to French healthcare benefits, and sick leaves, the drift of which is reaching worrying proportions." "It is on these major issues that we should act as a priority, rather than weakening field professions that are already on the verge of saturation. We hope that this pause will pave the way for a truly constructive dialogue, making it possible to build solid, fair, and applicable reforms, in the interest of patients as well as healthcare professionals in general," concludes Marion Cros.