Why does the drop in commercial discounts threaten 52 % of pharmacies?

Pharmacists are angry. However, Since the end of June. Similarly, the government’s announcement to reduce trade discounts on generic drugs, pharmac owners have feared firmness and license. Moreover, 52% of pharmacies could disappear in the next five years.

Will there be still pharmacies in a few years? In addition, The question, if it may seem alarmist, seriously worries why does drop commercial discounts French pharmacists. Similarly, At the end of June. Consequently, the government announced that it wanted to reduce the commercial discounts enjoyed by pharmacies on generic drugs. For example, Previously by 40 %, they would gradually be reduced to 20 % in 2027.

A decision that directly threatens pharmacies that fear to put the key under the door. Similarly, failing to be able to generate sufficient margins to ensure their operation.

How is the price of a medication calculated? – Why does drop commercial discounts

As with any product, the price of a drug results from a chain of sellers and buyers. Nevertheless, Made by laboratories, drugs are sold to wholesale distributors, who store and deliver drugs to pharmacies. Nevertheless, The latter therefore buy medicines from wholesalers and then sell them to patients.

But in France. for reimbursed drugs, it is health insurance that sets the price, regardless of the amount that the pharmacist spent. Social Security can then reimburse all. part of this price set to the patient, thanks to the third party paid.

What are the commercial discounts?

These commercial discounts are offered by wholesalers to pharmacists. For generic drugs, discounts were 40 %. But the government wishes to reduce this 30 % discount this year, then 20 % in 2027.

Take the example of why does drop commercial discounts a drug displayed at 20 euros for a patient. The wholesaler offers a price of 18 euros at the pharmacy. Before, he also offered a 40 %discount, so 7.20 euros. The pharmacy therefore paid 10.80 euros. With the new measure which reduces to 30%, it will pay 12.6 euros. This therefore represents an additional expenditure of 1.80 euros per box of medication.

Why such a government measure?

With this measure, the government hopes to play on several levers and thus achieve savings estimated at 500 million euros.

First. he hopes to better control the prices of drugs and thus, limit excessive margins: by reducing the margins of pharmacies, the latter will accept less easily price increases, thus forcing laboratories and wholesalers to limit, even reduce their prices. In this way. the government could then consider a drop in reimbursement which would be indexed to fall in the prices of medicines and thus generate savings.

The other lever concerns the choice of drugs offered and their quantity. Social security reimbursing a large part of the drugs. the State hopes that the drop why does drop commercial discounts in discounts that it can consider as an argument of sale, will push pharmacists and wholesalers to reduce their expenses in these reimbursed drugs by limiting sales volumes.

What consequences for pharmacies?

Since the announcement of the measure. many pharmacists in France have put themselves in “guard strike”: they thus refuse to ensure the opening of their pharmacy on their day of daycare. An almost invisible mobilization, the prefects having “requisitioned” pharmacists.

For them, the reduction of these margins would cause multiple deleterious effects. “This margin allows us to accomplish free missions that we do every day like preparing the pillors for nursing homes. making vaccines”explains Anne-Sophe Lassabe, pharmacist in Blanquefort, in Gironde.

On average, the shortfall would represent 25,000 euros for my pharmacy.

François Martial

Pharmacist in Bordeaux

These margins represented on average, 80 % of the operating costs of most why does drop commercial discounts pharmacies. Without this budget, some are already planning to reduce their payroll. “There is a risk that I dismiss”, confirms the pharmacist. In total, between 20,000 and 30,000 jobs would be threatened by the measure.

To make their voices heard. pharmacist organizations (FSPF, USPO, USPO or FEDERGY and UDGPO) announced several movements: a closure of the pharmacies on September 18 and every Saturday from September 27, as well as a third -party paid strike. Patients will then have to put forward the costs before being reimbursed by social security. via a care sheet to be sent.

Towards a degradation of the care system?

In Nouvelle-Aquitaine, several hundred pharmacies could close on the 2,000 in the region. Chain closures which, according to practitioners, generate “Pharmaceutical deserts”. “We are the last medical profession whose network allows you to easily see a health professional, alert François Martial. Often, we advise patients why does drop commercial discounts to redirect them or not to a doctor. “

According to a Upso survey, carried out in June, 52 % of pharmacies plan to close in the next five years. The rural areas, where the pharmacies are already the most precarious would be the first affected. A phenomenon to which is added “the disinterest of young people “ For pharmacy sectors, fears the practitioner.

In an attempt to obtain medication, we can call five times a week wholesalers.

Anne-Sophie Lassaba

Pharmacist in Blanquefort

For those who manage to survive, professionals fear worsening drug shortages. “If we lower prices. the laboratories will prefer to sell their medicines elsewhere and we will have patients in distress, because certain drugs have no equivalent, Alert Anne-Sophie Lassabe. We are already faced with shortages, including psychotropic drugs and certain patients decompensated following a stock shortage of their medication. “

The first drop in discounts, to 30 %, should come into force on August 1, 2025. “achieve a balanced agreement” said Yannick Neuder, the Minister of Health. The dialogue nevertheless seems broken: denouncing “The death of the pharmacy in France“. organizations require the total withdrawal of this measure.