“Phew, it’s open!” », Breathe Emmanuelle, 46, facing the open door of the pharmacy. This Saturday morning, this resident of the Arrée Mountains, treated for her tension, fears more road to find the drugs that she and her spouse, diabetic, demand on a daily basis. A chance for her, Pleyber-Christ’s pharmacy (29), although in solidarity with the strike movement called by the Union of Unions of Pharmacists of Frame (USPO), has chosen to “not penalize its customers, a day after August 15”.
In the queue before her, Irene knows the reasons for the discontent. The discount ceiling granted to pharmacists on generic drug prices will decrease, has decided the government. From 40 to 30 %, in September, before dropping to 20 %, in 2027. “They played the game of generics, massively distributed in Brittany, and that’s all their reward. »»
“Beyond the advice they provide and the bobology care they bring, we were able to count on them to carry out covid tests and vaccinations,” adds François, the leafy. How to keep local care if pharmacists fail to earn a living? »»
Malvina, suffering from Parkinson’s disease, dares not imagine her existence if, one day, he had to go to Morlaix (fifteen minutes by road), Sizun (25 minutes and as many kilometers) or Pleyben (more than half an hour of journey) to find the molecules that relieve her. “I am 55 years old and I don’t know how long I will still be able to drive …”
Less margin, it’s less jobs
In this rural sector which has already seen several pharmacies disappear, pharmacists are unanimous: if their activity is viable and provider of jobs, it is “thanks to the margins made on generic sales, the equivalent of one year of salary of 1.5 stations of preparer. On the hyper-on-one drugs of the labs, there is practically nothing. And beauty products, accessories, etc., represent only 20 % of our turnover, ”ensure the bosses of two Pays de Châteaulin pharmacies (29).
If customers are not all aware of the pricing of generics, they are, on the other hand, well aware of the announced doubling of the medical franchise. A dependent remains for the patient that it is planned to go from one to two euros per box of medication, with a ceiling of 100 euros per year (instead of 50).
Yannick agrees, willy -nilly, to have to contribute to the effort to deficit the security but considers that a higher dependent remains can be difficult for very small income. (Valérie Cudennec-Riou)
“A social regression”, denounces Nicole, of Plonévez-du-Faou (29). The measure also disturbs Gwénaëlle, from Plounéour-Trez (29), whose diabetic son requires more than 500 euros in treatment per month. “By dint of reimbursements, there is a risk of no longer being able to treat yourself. »»
Yannick, 53, who came from Rennes to see his mother, is shared. “All free may encourage abuses but 50 euros more is a lot for some people …”
How to keep local care if pharmacists fail to earn a living?
Patients have their ideas
Emmanuelle offers another savings track for the security: “Demand pharmaceutical laboratories that they adapt their packaging to the prescriptions of doctors: eight tablets per box for eight days of treatment, rather than six pills which oblige to buy two boxes”. While for Xavier, “it is on thermal cures that the government should take”.
“In any case, that he does not count on us to cash and make the money. We are not intended to collect the tax for the State, ”supports a pharmacist in the Châteaulin sector.
