Generic drugs: why are pharmacists predicting a tense return to school?

Angry pharmacists announced on Wednesday their intention to step up their mobilization in the fall following the publication in the Official Journal of a decree ratifying the reduction in commercial discounts that laboratories can grant to pharmacies on generic medicines.

"The betrayal is confirmed, the anger of pharmacists is only increased tenfold," reacted the Federation of Pharmacists (FSPF), the majority union, in a press release, in a joint press release with other pharmacists' organizations (Uspo, UNPF, Federgy, UDGPO).

"The representatives of pharmacists and pharmacy groups are therefore meeting in September in front of Parliament," continues the collective, which plans to intensify "at the start of the school year" its mobilization, which has been ongoing since the beginning of July.

To encourage the distribution of generic drugs, which are cheaper than patented drugs, the discounts granted by laboratories to pharmacies can currently reach 40% of the manufacturer's price excluding tax for these products.

The new decree sets the ceilings for commercial discounts at 30% for generic drugs as of September 1st and provides for successive reductions to 20% in 2027. "The government has engaged in a fight to the death against pharmacists, we will throw all our forces into this battle," warns the pharmacists' inter-union, which had hoped to win its case with its on-call strike that began at the beginning of July.

In a separate press release, the Union of Pharmacists' Unions (Uspo) is even more combative, announcing that it is preparing "a double legal procedure against the State" , both via a priority question of constitutionality (QPC) before the Constitutional Council and "an appeal for inaction in matters of access to care" before the administrative court.

The union is also calling for pharmacies to close on August 16. The inter-union, which is seeking to rally public opinion to its cause, is planning to close pharmacies on September 18 and then "every Saturday starting September 27."

"Could the profession, for once, be rewarded for its 24/7 commitment, could it be considered and not seen as a vulgar variable for accounting adjustments in the Social Security accounts?" declared Philippe Besset, president of the FSPF, at the end of July.

The government plans to save €1.7 billion on healthcare spending by 2025, including €500 million on medication.