In Nîmes and the Gard, the pharmacy strike promises to be very popular this Thursday, May 30

Eric José, président du FSPF30 : “Les fermetures d’officines se multiplient…” Midi Libre – K. H.

Shortage of medicines, pharmacy closures, risk of deregulation and online sale of medicines… the demands are multiple and the profession very mobilized.

This is the second big strike in a profession that rarely gets talked about since that of September 2014. This Thursday, May 30, the majority of pharmacies will therefore remain closed! "In ten years, 2,000 pharmacies have disappeared in France, or 10  % of the total", explains Eric José, pharmacist in Saint-Gilles and president of the FSPF in Gard, the main union of community pharmacies, who hopes "a big mobilization, at least 90 % closures".

Gard, which has 240 pharmacists, is also affected, in rural areas where the pharmacy is often the last business left. "But also in the hyper-centers because of their desertification and the lack of prescriptions. Because fewer doctors also impact our profession. The age pyramid is quite high and many pharmacists retire without a successor because the pharmacy attracts less", adds Eric José. & quot;This strike alerts patients to the risk of pharmaceutical deserts", explains the FSPF press release.

Thibaut Grangette: “The shortage of medicines, we can’t take it anymore!” Midi Libre – K.H.

For those who are in exercise, the problems multiply. "Many pharmacies have cash flow in the red", testifies Thibaut Grangette, of the Esplanade pharmacy, in Nimes. Rising costs, inflation but above all "the too low price of medicines in France. Manufacturers prefer to sell abroad where they make more profits.

21 pharmacies requisitioned

This Thursday, May 30, 21 pharmacies were raided. requisitioned by prefectural order, "while with 400 pharmacists in the Hérault , there were only 20 requisitions, Eric Jos is surprised. In Nîmes four pharmacies will be open: the Esplanade pharmacy, the Horloge pharmacy, the Saint-Luc pharmacy and the Jeanne-d’Arc pharmacy.

Gard pharmacists will join à the demonstration of their colleagues from Hérault & from 1:30 p.m.   the Peyrou esplanade.

Shortage of many medications

The other difficulty, which is only getting worse, is the shortage of medicines. "More than 220 essential medicines are out of stock", explains Eric José. A real headache for pharmacists! "We can't take it anymore, says Thibaut Grangette. We are trying to find solutions for patients who are penalized, to call laboratories, doctors. That's about twelve hours of extra work each week.

Pharmacists also look with concern at this old sea serpent of deregulation of the sale of medicines on the internet… which had triggered the 2014 strike and which would resurface next October. "It would be the death of pharmacies. The pharmacy is the last door open, we saw it during Covid, says Eric José. "The pharmacist is the safeguard against buying just anything, to avoid hazardous self-medication or counterfeit medicines", alerts Thibaut Rochette.

And also point out their new missions (vaccinations, Covid test, trod test for angina and cystitis on trial) which are not paid enough. Pharmacy students will join the movement while they are still suspended from the reform of the third cycle of their training.