Recently, pregnant women can request an interview with a pharmacist for advice on taking medication during pregnancy. How is the meeting going? When can we have this interview? Is this service chargeable? Answers.
When a woman is pregnant, she has to ask herself a lot of questions, especially about taking medication during pregnancy. On this subject, some future mothers do not always know which drugs are prohibited to them and which ones they can take without any risk to the fetus. Still others do not know if they can continue their treatment, which they started long before their pregnancy. These are questions that require clear answers and sometimes professional advice. Since November 7, 2022, pregnant women can request a brief individual interview with a pharmacist. This new device was initiated by the National Order of Pharmacists.
What is this interview with a pharmacist for?
This interview with a pharmacist aims to educate pregnant women on taking medication during pregnancy and of also inform them about the potentially dangerous consequences of certain drugs, known as teratogens, on the fetus. The pharmacist can also discuss the importance of vaccination if necessary.
Since when does pharmacy maintenance exist?
According to the press release from the National Order pharmacists, maintenance for pregnant women is accessible since November 7, 2022. Expectant mothers can now go to any pharmacy to request an interview with a pharmacist.
The interview takes place within the pharmacy itself. “When the pharmacist identifies that the woman is pregnant, he offers her, when he deems it necessary, a short interview”, says the press release. Concretely, the pharmacist will be able to:
- Take stock of the medications prescribed to the patient or taken for self-medication;
- Inform and prevent the taking of certain medications;
- Talk about the risks associated with the consumption of alcohol or other substances such as food supplements, phytotherapy, aromatherapy;
- Share ANSM documentation entitled “Drugs and pregnancy, the right reflexes” and send her by secure messaging the link to the “Pregnant woman” page of the ameli.fr website as well as the guide produced by Health Insurance “My maternity”.
Which pregnant woman can ask for this interview?
A pregnant woman, at any stage of her pregnancycan ask to have this interview with a pharmacist.
How much does maintenance cost for a pregnant woman?
The interview with a pharmacist is not free. Its amount has been set at 5 euros including tax. A higher rate in the overseas departments and regions, with a coefficient of 1.05. The Ameli site specifies that the Health Insurance covers it up to 70% or 100% if the insured is covered by maternity insurance. To do this, the pharmacist must specify a few elements in the invoice that he issues following the interview:
- his identification number in the prescribing area;
- his identification number in the performing area;
- the date of the maintenance as the date of execution.