French Health Minister announces 200 drugs to be made available “self-service” to patients in France
January 18, 2008
Patients in France will start to feel better in 2008 when 200 drugs move out from behind the counter.
Roselyne Bachelot, Minster of Health in France, announced on January 17 that for the first time in France, beginning in the second quarter of 2008, some 200 drugs that until now have been sold exclusively from behind the pharmacy counter, would now be available on the other side—that is, the one shoppers have access to.
The president of the council of the order of the pharmacists expressed his satisfaction the day of the announcement, while a representative of the Federation of the pharmaceutical trade unions of France (FSPF) was more reserved. “The pharmacist is not a salesman, but a health professional. Now we’re being asked to change the way we do things and to take into account the commercial aspect. We’ll have to try it and see what happens”.
The reason for the shift is to encourage drops in the prices of certain products. Patients will be able to choose the medication that they judge best for what’s ailing them—and their pocketbooks, as certain drugs have recently been benefiting less and less from insurance reimbursement. Roselyne Bachelot announced the list of drugs that will be sold self-service in pharmacies–but still, she emphasized, under the framework of personalized advice on the part of the pharmacist.
Most of the drugs on the list fall under the categories of analgesics, cold and flu medications, dermatological treatments and aids for quitting smoking such as patches. Minister Bachelot explained that this is only a preliminary list, and that overall, 3,000 products are potentially eligible. Mme Bachelot says the step will encourage competition that will cause a drop in the prices for patients but also for pharmacies, who will theoretically collectively have more purchasing power vis-à-vis the pharmaceutical companies.
Jean Parrot, president of the national Council of the Order of pharmacists, declared the announcement as great news for patients, who can now be more involved and more responsible for their choice of treatment.
When it comes to health-care, people in France want to be as cost-effective as possible, Parrot said, and this objective is served when the responsibility for treating minor illnesses is transferred to patients themselves. He added that the change could also be beneficial for the pharmacist who now more often becomes the patient’s first point of contact for treatment. But he admitted that convincing pharmacists to change their ways might still be an uphill battle.
One thing that will not change is that these drugs, while now being sold on the other side of the counter, will migrate no further—for reasons of public health, pharmacies will retain their monopoly on selling these types of products.
And while “front-of-counter” sales will begin during the second quarter of this year, according to Health Minister Bachelot, pharmacists still remain free to organize their own dispensaries as they see fit. “Those who want to continue putting their drugs behind their counters will be able to do it”, she said.
But French customers, with their newfound freedom to shop, compare and make their own decisions about these drugs, may well compel pharmacists to evolve from their time-honored habits, even if the government of France does not.
Comments
Got something to say?
You must be logged in to post a comment.