Pharmacists will now be able to directly dispense medications in the event of a positive test for bacterial angina or cystitis under certain conditions, after the publication this Tuesday, June 18 of a decree in the Official Journal.
The first direct deliveries in pharmacies could take place “within 15 days”, the time for the first pharmacists to complete the online training necessary to be able to carry out this direct delivery, Philippe Besset, president of the FSPF, told AFP (federation of pharmacists of France).
The decree applies a provision of the 2024 Social Security financing law. Direct delivery, without a medical prescription, is possible for patients over 10 years of age in the event of a positive test for bacterial angina, and for women under 16 to 65 years old, non-febrile, for cystitis. The pharmacist is paid 10 euros in the event of a negative test, and 15 euros in the event of a positive test.
Lighten the workload of doctors
This direct delivery by pharmacists is part of current efforts to lighten the workload of doctors, in a context of medical desertification. Other decrees moving in the direction of greater sharing of tasks with doctors are awaited by health professionals, who hope to see them appear before the legislative elections and the change of government.
Advanced practice nurses (APNs) are awaiting the decree which will allow patients to make an appointment directly with them, without a medical prescription. This direct access, provided for by the Rist law of May 2023, will however only be possible for those working in certain collective structures such as health establishments, health centers or care homes.
Nurses are also awaiting a decree that will give them more autonomy in wound care. Physiotherapists are hoping for the publication of a decree allowing them to experiment with direct access in 13 departments, when they are part of a CPTS (territorial professional health community), a measure promised by Prime Minister Gabriel Attal. They are also awaiting a decree allowing them to prescribe certain health products, including some analgesics and anti-inflammatories.