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Dr Yves Dour (Doctor of Pharmacy)
What health innovations can we expect this year? What are the emerging trends and their impact? Member of the Doctissimo expert committee, Yves Dour, doctor of pharmacy, gives us his opinion on innovations in pharmacies and the evolution of the role of the pharmacist.
What advances have been made in recent years?
Yves Dour, doctor of pharmacy: It is the recognition of the pharmacist at the center of the healthcare system. We are at the junction between delivery and prescription. Given the insufficient number of doctors in town and in the countryside, the pharmacist often remains the health personnel closest to the population. We are finally recognized as a prescriber and vaccinator.
In this context, we vaccinate against Covid-19, the flu and treat sore throats, cystitis and other urinary infections… We have also become prescribers of antibiotics. This is a relatively important step forward. We work with doctors, physiotherapists and act as a link between healthcare personnel.
“We have been waiting for this recognition for several years“
Certain free actions are also starting to become chargeable… And the vast majority of them are starting to be recognized, such as: pharmaceutical intervention, support for key ages, prevention appointments, etc.
Which ones do you think will mark 2024?
I hope that it is not the cure that will mark the coming years, but rather a preventive approach. Preventive medicine must be at the heart of priorities, like certain doctors who recommend playing sports to preserve one’s health.
I also hope that, thanks to vaccines, we will be able to eradicate certain pathologies (uterine cancer, certain ENT cancers, etc.) in 10, 20 or 30 years.
What can this change in patients’ daily lives?
Access to care will be facilitated. We have also benefited from a decree which extends the prescriptions to 3 months. Extending (when possible) treatments frees up additional time for doctors, which would allow them to concentrate more on patients.
“We are there to complement the doctor, we must work together for the benefit of patients, hand in hand, to develop the health system“
In your opinion, is there an innovation that could revolutionize pharmacy?
The biggest step forward would be for people to trust us. Given our experiences, we don’t do everything and anything – we will never go beyond the scope of what we can do. I would therefore like us to be considered as a real “complement” to the healthcare system and not as a trader. That would be the real innovation!