Tests for tonsillitis and cystitis now available in French pharmacies
The tests mean you may not need to see a GP to receive prescription treatment
By enabling pharmacies to carry out tests such as these, the government is aiming to ease pressure on GPs and hospitals and improve access to healthcare
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Did you know that pharmacists in France can carry out tests to detect tonsillitis and cystitis, and can even prescribe antibiotics to treat them if needed, without you needing to see a doctor?
Specifically, pharmacists can test for:
Streptococcal A tonsillitis (to see if the tonsillitis is viral or bacterial - only bacterial can be treated by antibiotics) in patients aged 10 or over
Uncomplicated acute cystitis in women aged 16 to 65
The tests – which come under the umbrella of tests rapides d'orientation diagnostique (TROD) – have age restrictions:
The tests only take a few minutes, and can be done in a private room or space in the pharmacy upon request. The cystitis tests require the patient to provide a urine sample in a sterile pot.
In case of any doubt or severe symptoms, the pharmacist will advise you to consult a doctor or go to hospital.
What are the treatments?
If bacterial tonsillitis is diagnosed, pharmacists may prescribe one of the following: amoxicillin, cefuroxime (adults only), cefpodoxime (cefpodoxime proxetil for children), azithromycin, clarithromycin, or josamycin
How much do the tests cost?
The cost of the tests are fixed, and are currently:
€10 for the test, without any treatment
€15 for the test and the subsequent prescription of treatment
These costs are covered by the Assurance maladie in the usual way.
The tests (and any medication prescribed) will appear on your medical record.
How do I know if my pharmacy offers it?
All pharmacists are trained to do these tests, but pharmacies that offer the service may not have any signs advertising it, so it is always best to ask. Around 15,000 pharmacies nationwide offer the service.
By enabling pharmacies to carry out tests such as these, the government is aiming to ease pressure on GPs and hospitals, and to improve access to healthcare in areas that are considered to be ‘medical deserts’ (defined as places in which people struggle to get a GP appointment or to access healthcare).
Antibiotic aims
The service also aims to reduce “needless” prescriptions for antibiotics. In 2024 l’Assurance Maladie estimated that six million antibiotic prescriptions were written for tonsillitis, when only two million were truly justified.
Only bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics – taking antibiotics too often (both individually and as a society) can cause antibiotic resistance, as well as adding millions to l’Assurance maladie’s costs.
The pharmacy testing service is currently underused – in 2024, national health insurance fund la Caisse nationale d’Assurance maladie (CNAM) found that only 678,000 patients nationwide had used the service.
This may be because the service was relatively new in 2024 – it was officially introduced by a decree that appeared in the Journal Officiel dated June 18, 2024, and came into force from June 19.
