The French pharmacy is no longer limited to dispensing medications. For several years, the public health missions assigned to pharmacists have expanded, turning each visit to the pharmacy into an opportunity for prevention and follow-up. Pharmavia is part of this dynamic by offering structured health services, but not all are equal in terms of real impact on the care pathway.
Pharmaceutical consultations and screening in pharmacies: what the new missions cover
Pharmacists now have formalized missions defined by contractual amendments. An order dated July 5, 2024, sets the remuneration scales for pharmaceutical consultations for several pathologies: patients on AVK or AOD, asthma, oral anticancer drugs, monitoring of pregnant women, and level II opioids.
Blood pressure measurement is officially recognized as a pharmacist’s mission. Legally excluded from the medical monopoly, this blood pressure measurement falls under prevention. The pharmacist can offer a check to at-risk individuals, monitor patients on antihypertensive treatment, and refer them to a doctor in case of abnormal values.
| Mission | Target audience | Indicative remuneration | Cost for the patient |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVK/AOD consultations (1st year) | Patients on anticoagulants | 50 euros per cycle | None (third-party payment) |
| Oral anticancer consultations | Oncology patients | 60 to 80 euros depending on the protocol | None (third-party payment) |
| Blood pressure measurement | Individuals at cardiovascular risk | Included in pharmacy missions | None |
| Prevention assessments | General population | Variable depending on the scheme | None |
These consultations are billed through third-party payment and covered by health insurance. The patient pays nothing upfront and incurs no costs for these services. This is a point that many patients are still unaware of.
To learn more about Pharmavia and the health services offered in pharmacies, the platform details the available support based on pathologies and the needs of each patient.
Common care in pharmacies: criteria to distinguish between one-time advice and structured follow-up
Not all pharmacist interventions have the same significance. Quick advice at the counter about a sunscreen or pain reliever is useful, but it differs radically from a structured pharmaceutical consultation with an evaluation grid and traceability.
Three criteria allow us to measure the value of support in pharmacies:
- Traceability: a formalized pharmaceutical consultation generates a report that can be shared with the treating physician, unlike a simple oral exchange at the counter
- Recurrence: consultation cycles include several appointments throughout the year, allowing recommendations to be adjusted based on the patient’s progress
- Referral: a pharmacist trained in the new missions knows when to refer to a doctor or specialist and formalizes this referral
However, counter advice remains relevant for minor everyday ailments. Temporary pain, skin irritations, mild digestive issues: the pharmacist remains the first healthcare professional accessible without an appointment. The difference lies in the nature of the problem and its chronicity.
Vaccination in pharmacies: a common preventive act
Since the gradual expansion of pharmacists’ vaccination competencies (initiated in 2018 with seasonal flu), the list of vaccines that can be administered in pharmacies has significantly expanded. Pharmacists now vaccinate against flu, Covid-19, and other pathologies according to current recommendations.
This evolution reduces the pressure on medical offices and facilitates access to vaccination for patients struggling to get a medical appointment. The vaccination is performed in a dedicated confidentiality space within the pharmacy.
Health products and parapharmacy: how delivery changes access to care
Online sales of parapharmacy products and over-the-counter medications are changing purchasing habits. Sunscreen, herbal medicine, dietary supplements: these categories represent a growing share of the activity of connected pharmacies.
The delivery of health products does not replace pharmaceutical advice. A sunscreen ordered online arrives without the application recommendations suited to the patient’s skin type. A dietary supplement delivered to the home does not come with a check for drug interactions.
Pharmavia offers a catalog of health products accessible online, but the value lies in the coupling of ordering and advice. Some pharmacies in the network combine delivery with a phone or video consultation with the pharmacist, which partially restores the value of visiting the pharmacy.
- Dermatological and sunscreen products require advice on skin type and appropriate protection factor
- Herbal products can interact with ongoing treatments, a point rarely checked during a standard online purchase
- Self-measurement devices (blood pressure monitors, blood glucose meters) require an explanation of how to interpret the results
Development of prevention assessments: an underutilized lever
Prevention assessments in pharmacies are one of the most recent missions. The principle: a structured consultation to evaluate a patient’s risk factors (smoking, sedentary lifestyle, diet, family history) and direct them to appropriate resources.
Pharmacists are starting to embrace these prevention assessments, but their deployment remains uneven across regions. Pharmacies located in areas with a shortage of general practitioners find a particularly relevant role: they become the first point of health contact for patients who do not have a primary care physician.
What still hinders adoption
The time spent on each assessment, the necessary training, and the arrangement of a confidentiality space in the pharmacy represent investments. The development of these missions also depends on the ability of pharmacies to recruit pharmacists and technicians trained in the new competencies.
The remuneration for these acts, although covered, remains a topic of discussion between pharmacists’ unions and health insurance. The challenge for the coming years lies in balancing the time invested by the pharmacist and the financial recognition of these public health missions.
The community pharmacist now occupies a position that goes far beyond dispensing. Patients who take advantage of all these services, from pharmaceutical consultations to prevention assessments, benefit from close follow-up that few other healthcare professionals can offer without an appointment or waiting time.
