Mass French pharmacy shutdown this Saturday: how to get medicine

The vast majority of pharmacies in France are set to be shut on Saturday (August 16) as unions back a mass one-day closure. 

Around 90% of pharmacies could be shut in some areas, including the south-east (Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur region) and the Côte-d’Or, Saône-et-Loire, and Gers departments.

Closure rates will be high across the country, with around 85% of all pharmacies expected to remain shut. It comes amid wider strike action in the sector.

The action, which falls between a bank holiday and a Sunday when services are already restricted, has been called for by the pharmacy union USPO and is backed by several major groups in the sector. 

How to find medicine this weekend?

Saturday’s action has been called in particular over changes that would see laboratories reduce discounts on generic drugs purchased by pharmacies. 

“We are not on strike [on Saturday]; we are simply closed to consider what comes next, possible closures, and future layoffs,” said USPO President Pierre-Olivier Variot. 

The fact that the action is not a strike with workers walking out from an expected shift, but a choice by owners to close their premises means that pharmacies cannot be forced to remain open under minimum operation rules in place during strike action in other sectors.

Similarly, as the law states pharmacies are free to open or close on Saturdays as they wish (most open for the economic advantages), they cannot be forced to provide services on this day.

It also means there is no defined list of which establishments will be open so you may wish to stock up on any medicine you need in advance.

Bear in mind that Friday (August 15) is a public holiday in France and several pharmacies may also be closed. 

Most pharmacies are also shut on Sundays (with only emergency pharmacies usually open), so ensure you have enough to cover you for several days.

In terms of a sudden need for medicine you can search for a pharmacy that has remained open which is more likely in areas with larger populations, or check for an emergency pharmacy (pharmacie de garde) using our article linked above. 

Changes said to threaten one third of pharmacies with closure

A decree published on August 4 in France’s Journal Officiel is behind the protest action. 

Previously, laboratories could offer pharmacies discounts of up to 40% on generic drugs, providing pharmacies with good profit margins on resale to the public.

However, from September 1, the maximum discount is set to drop to 30% until it is assessed again in June 2026, and could potentially drop to 20% by 2027. 

These reforms are part of plans by the government to save up to €1.7 billion from healthcare spending amid a wider push for €40 billion in savings from the upcoming budget. 

However, pharmacy owners say the discounts are a large portion of their overall profit margin and without them, pharmacies may not stay afloat. 

Up to 6,000 pharmacies in France could be forced to close if discounts drop. 

Smaller rural pharmacies in particular would be hardest-hit, as many are already struggling with rising costs and recruitment difficulties.

“Generic savings for community pharmacists aren't important; they are vital. You can't just announce outright that your funding is being cut; it is not possible,” said President of the Calvados Union des pharmaciens d’officine Marc Sartorio to French media, Ici. 

“The pharmaceutical network will be weakened. The quality of care will suffer; there will no longer be the network that currently covers France perfectly,” he added.

More action is expected in coming months 

Discontent in the sector is only set to rise following Saturday’s closures, and more action is possible. 

Emergency pharmacists will continue their prolonged action with a number of closures in the coming months. 

The ‘indefinite’ strike currently taking place will continue, with several pharmacies de garde closing or providing a reduced service. 

A wider closure of the majority of these emergency establishments is planned for September 18, and then on Saturdays from September 27 onwards.