French pharmacists call off strike action after agreement with new prime minister
Plans to reduce pharmacy discounts on commercial drugs have been suspended
Pharmacists across the country joined protests on September 18
Sibuet Benjamin / Shutterstock
French pharmacists have called off planned autumn strike action following an agreement with the government over commercial discounts and support for the sector.
Workers in the sector were planning to conduct walkouts on Saturdays – starting this weekend and lasting throughout autumn – and had previously protested on September 18 and in August.
Some pharmacists had been on strike since June, particularly those working in emergency pharmacies, over closures and a perceived lack of government support for the sector.
However, strikes in several other sectors are still expected next week after France’s intersyndicale called for another round of protests.
Support for local pharmacies
New Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu met with union officials in the pharmacy sector earlier in the week, successfully agreeing a deal to end the strike action.
The new agreement provides “a new economic model for community pharmacies with government services, and integration into the France Santé network,” said president of the Fédération des syndicats pharmaceutiques de France Philippe Besset to FranceInfo.
A major element of the agreement sees a three-month suspension of planned reductions on commercial drug discounts for pharmacies.
In addition, the prime minister will strengthen support for rural pharmacies, part of plans to improve medical access across the country.
Media reports from earlier in the week suggested that pharmacies were refusing to stock up on Covid-19 and flu vaccinations for the autumn/winter campaign.
