VIDEO – Six diseases are now treated in pharmacies: the first positive feedback

In some regions, it is not necessary to visit a doctor for the treatment of certain pathologies.

This is the case in Brittany, but also in Corsica, Occitanie and Centre-Val de Loire, where the system has been tested since January 1.

From both pharmacists and patients, initial feedback seems to be positive.

In case of “minor ailments”, have you ever thought about consulting your pharmacist? In some regions, certain pathologies can now be treated by a pharmacy during a medical consultation conducted in a pharmacy. This is particularly the case of Brittany, which has served as a test area since 2021, with 74 authorized pharmacies, after a request from the regional health agency.

Facing a first positive response, the system has been extended from January 1 to three other regions, namely Corsica, Occitanie and Centre-Val de Loire, before a possible generalization to the entire French region.

“We Declutter Everywhere”

Certainly, to establish his diagnosis, the pharmacist relies on a questionnaire that the patient answers during a confidential consultation lasting a quarter of an hour. Among the most commonly treatable pathologies are tonsillitis, conjunctivitis, chickenpox, tick bites and cystitis.

In practice, the experiment shuts down medical offices and emergency rooms and makes patients’ lives easier. “For minor ailments, it’s still very practical,” One patient revels in the report at the top of this article, he recalls “Getting an appointment with a doctor is often already complicated.”

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“We declutter everywhere, but especially emergency rooms that are full of things we can take care of ourselves.” Notes Anyvonne Boëdec, pharmacist in Coray, in Finistère.

“For people who say ‘I would have gone to the emergency room’, in 76% of cases we avoided an unnecessary emergency room visit and in 60% of cases, we freed up medical time because treatment could have been done at home. Pharmacist”, Martin Costedost, General Director of Pharma System Quality (PHSQ), explains.