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Following the decree published in the Official Journal on November 28, the validity period for prescriptions issued for a chronic illness will be increased. It will last, under certain conditions, from 1 to 3 months. A decision little appreciated by doctors.
In the Official Journal of November 28, a decree opens the possibility for community pharmacists to renew chronic treatments within a limit of three months, on an exceptional basis. Resulting from the Rist law of May 2023, this decision was taken “in order to avoid any interruption of treatment detrimental to the health of the patient“.
A renewal authorization which goes from 1 to 3 months
Until now, the authorization to renew expired prescriptions for this type of treatment was one month. From now on, the deadline is extended to three months, with one constraint however: the pharmacist will have the obligation to notify the prescribing doctor by secure messaging.
Certain medications are excluded from this new rule
Among existing medicines, some cannot be subject to this rule. This is the case for example for anxiolytics, hypnotics and opioids because of their dangerousness.
Another important point: for this “exceptional additional renewal“the pharmacist will only have the right to dispense medicines month by month.
Doctors angry at this rule
If one might think that this decision would go unnoticed, it is in reality quite the opposite. General practitioner unions in particular are standing up against this new rule.
Dr Jean-Christophe Nogrette, deputy general secretary of the MG France union, warns the government against a development which could be “dangerous”. “For my chronic polymedicated patients, there is hardly a renewal consultation where there is no change in dosage and treatment! The medical situation of our patients is changing and so are our prescriptions” he is indignant.
Dr Jérôme Marty, president of the French Union for Free Medicine (UFML-Syndicat), goes further. He calls on doctors not to accept “this ersatz medicine”, and to include on prescriptions the words: “Any delivery for a period longer than that indicated on the prescription is the sole responsibility of the pharmacist.
Pharmacists, on the contrary, welcome this decision
In a press release, the Federation of Pharmaceutical Unions of France (FSPF) welcomes itself, in particular for the rapid implementation of this measure. “Patients will be able to count on their pharmacist and the proximity of a pharmacy to avoid any interruption of treatment that is detrimental to their health.” can we read on the document. Indeed, according to them, it was “long-awaited” by pharmacists.