French pharmacists strike over drug shortages and pay, closing retailers nationwide | EUROtoday
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French pharmacists launched their first walkout in 10 years on Thursday, closing up store over drug shortages, pharmacy closures and fears drugs might be offered on-line, in addition to increased pay.
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After poster and e-mail campaigns to warn of the closures in latest days, sufferers had been set to search out round 90 % of pharmacies throughout France closed for the day, with each single one in some regional cities shutting their doorways.
Local authorities have requisitioned some places to make sure legally-required minimal protection.
Professionals say they’re simply as involved about drug shortages, rural closures and coaching reform as about pay and situations.
“The biggest worry is vanishing pharmacies” which face financial hardship in rural areas and generally even in cities and cities, stated Philippe Besset, president of the FSPF pharmacists’ union federation.
Around 2,000 pharmacies have closed nationwide in 10 years, leaving round 20,000 in operation, commerce our bodies say.
Unions are calling for increased pay from subsequent 12 months as inflation blows up their prices, forward of talks subsequent week with France’s nationwide medical health insurance authority.
Beyond the walkouts, pharmacists plan demonstrations in lots of cities nationwide in addition to a central protest in Paris, the place a march will run by the capital’s south from the pharmacy faculty to the economic system ministry.
A significant sore level considerations suspected authorities plans to make it simpler to promote over-the-counter drugs on-line.
“All the ingredients are in place to kill the network” of pharmacies throughout France, which make use of a complete of 130,000 individuals, stated Pierre-Olivier Variot, president of the USPO pharmacists’ union.
Marc Feracci, an MP for President Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance social gathering, advised AFP that simpler on-line gross sales had been “under consideration” however that individuals ought to “keep their heads”.
The authorities wouldn’t endanger pharmacists’ drug monopoly, he insisted.
“Nothing will be opened up to big supermarkets nor will medications be added to Amazon,” Ferraci stated.
(AFP)
https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20240530-french-pharmacists-strike-drug-shortages-pay-closing-shops-nationwide-online-sales-health-france