Pharmacists' representatives announced on July 17 that they will continue their on-call strike and plan to close pharmacies every Saturday starting September 27 in protest against a reduction in commercial discounts on generic drugs.
Mobilized since the beginning of the month, the union organizations of community pharmacists and pharmacy groups have " unanimously decided to continue and expand the mobilization " after the government's decision to set the ceiling for these commercial discounts at 30%, according to a joint press release.
To encourage the distribution of generic drugs, which are cheaper than patented drugs, discounts granted by laboratories to pharmacies could previously reach 40 % of the generic price. A government project aimed at limiting these discounts to a rate between 20 and 25 %, as part of savings to be made in health spending by 2025, sparked protests from pharmacists who took to the streets in early July.
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“ An indispensable resource »
After a meeting on Wednesday, " the government presented its arbitration " And " decided to set it at 30%", a decision which nevertheless remains " unacceptable " by pharmacists' organizations (FSPF, Uspo, UNPF, Federgy, UDGPO), according to their press release.
They announced " the continuation of the guards' strike" , And " the immediate strike of the conventional third-party payment during the requisitions » imposed by the prefects to ensure these guards. They also envisage " a complete closure of pharmacies on September 18, 2025 " as well as a closure " every Saturday starting September 27, 2025“.
“ For small, local pharmacies, discounts are an essential resource. They will be unable to sustain any losses and will have to lay off staff or even close permanently.", emphasize the representatives of pharmacists.
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