Pharmacy Locations: Where are we now?

A regional network under strain

France’s pharmacy network is under strain: in the past ten years, nearly 10% of pharmacies have closed (about 2,000 in total). In some rural communities, this trend is leading to a risk of a shortage of pharmacies.

To address this issue, an experimental solution has been developed: pharmacy branches

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The (almost) first French branch

The very first pharmacy branch was officially authorized in 2022 in Tende (Alpes-Maritimes), under very unusual circumstances: the village had just been devastated by flooding caused by Storm Alex. The project, supported by the PACA Regional Health Agency (ARS) and the local Community Health and Social Services Committee (CPTS), aimed to restore access to healthcare for the town’s residents. However, due to an inability to recruit staff, the initiative struggled to gain momentum and ultimately never got off the ground.

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A renewed momentum

Since the enactment of the Valletoux Act on December 27, 2023, local offices have benefited from a clear legal framework. The pilot program, led by the DGOS and the ARS, currently involves six pilot regions:

• Corsica
• Auvergne–Rhône-Alpes
• Brittany
• Centre-Val de Loire
• Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
• Occitanie

A total of six projects have been approved. Four branches are already operational, and additional openings are planned for the coming months.

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Requirements to be met

The pilot program is governed by a set of specific guidelines. Among the main requirements are:

• Municipality with fewer than 2,500 residents
• recent closure of a pharmacy with no buyer
• The main pharmacy located in the neighboring area or the one closest to the future branch
• The branch is guaranteed to remain open for at least three years
• A pharmacist must be present at the branch location
• regular replenishment of the drug inventory

Hours of operation vary by project, ranging from a minimum of two half-days (8 hours) per week (La Chapelle d’Anguillon) to a minimum of four days (32 hours) per week (Coupiac).

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The standard antenna

Based on current projects, we can outline an initial typical profile:

• 44 square meters of average retail space
• located 20 km from its main pharmacy
• open an average of 15 hours a week
• in a town with a population of about 500
• receiving approximately €60,000 in funding over three years (FISS + FIR)

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Challenges & Missteps

The experiment is generating as much anticipation as it is skepticism.

In Cozzano (Corsica), the main pharmacy had to deal with unprecedented administrative and billing issues with the CPAM.

Other pharmacists, such as Angélique Siettel (Loire), highlight the logistical challenges: finding a location, the need to hire staff, adapting software, coordinating with wholesalers…

Among the unions, opinions are divided:

• Pierre-Olivier Variot (USPO) says he supports the proposal, but urges caution regarding the distance between the branch and the main pharmacy.
• Lucie Bourdy Dubois (FSPF) warns against locations that go against the spirit of the law, such as when a branch is opened near other existing pharmacies.

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Between hopes and concerns

Is this a miracle solution to address the weakening of the regional network, or an open door to abuses that will further undermine it? This pilot program will provide the long-awaited answer. This is a development in the pharmaceutical landscape that warrants close attention, with the potential for significant impact in the coming years.