Pharmacies In France: Things 10 Things You Need To Know

The flashing green French pharmacy signs are as commonplace in France as Starbucks or McDonald’s are in other countries. You can always tell where a pharmacy is located in France because of their bright neon signage, but don’t let that deceive you; French pharmacies are anything but dull!

Pharmacies in France are usually the first stop for medical advise for locals if doctors are not available. So if ever you find yourself needing medicines or medical advise, here’s our intensive guide for French pharmacies.

Pharmacies In France: Things 10 Things You Need To Know

The French Pharmacist

In France, pharmacists are trained to assist customers in selecting the appropriate medication. You aren’t allowed to simply stroll in, take what you need, and leave. Instead, you just tell the pharmacist what ails you and they pull the appropriate medication from the back.

Pharmacists in France receive extensive education in all possible therapeutic areas. On a holiday that occurs on a Sunday, if you cut yourself and aren’t sure if you need stitches, knowing that there is a pharmacy nearby comes in handy. You may look and feel brand new for less than ten euros and a few little boxes of recommended cure.

The French Pharmacies

What is it about French pharmacies that make individuals who have been there say they are like visiting a magic shop? Here are some interesting things to know:

1. French pharmacies only sell medicines.

The phrase “I’m on my way to the drugstore to pick up some gum, paper towels, and a bar of soap” maybe familiar.

However, you won’t hear them at a French pharmacy because they sell only medicines and personal items.  They are also far smaller than, say, U.S. chain drug stores. There is no place to buy candies, shampoo, or greeting cards. Only prescription drugs.

A parapharmacy, a special department within a pharmacy is where you may find a few beauty products or toiletries. In addition, these establishments are not actual pharmacies and do not carry prescription drugs. However, these parapharmacies never sell gum, drinks, or stationary; just skin care products like cosmetics and sunscreen.

2. Pharmacies are everywhere.

Both the healthcare and cosmetics industries in France rely heavily on the country’s storied pharmacy system. Every town of reasonable size, and even some smaller settlements, will have a pharmacy as one of their primary services. About 23,000 pharmacies can be found throughout France.

3. In France, only pharmacists are allowed to own pharmacies.

There are no pharmacy chains because each drugstore can only be owned by one person.

In France, pharmacists learn to recognize common types of fungi. If you’re concerned that any of the mushrooms in your collection might be harmful, you can bring them to the pharmacist and have them screened at no extra cost.

If there is no nearby hospital or doctor’s office, people in some areas may have to rely on pharmacies for medical help. Many French individuals prefer to consult with their pharmacist first.

4. In France, getting your prescription filled doesn’t involve any lengthy wait hours.

Even the term for completing a prescription, “filling,” does not exist in French. In France, you can walk into a pharmacy, present the pharmacist or technician your prescription, and within seconds they will return your shipment of medication. Unless, of course, they need to make some sort of unusual preparation.

But in the vast majority of instances, pills and other therapies are available and ready to be used. After asking for your social security number so they can process your reimbursement, the pharmacist will go over the medication’s intended effects with you.  They will also answer any questions you may have before sending you on your way.

5. The hours of operation of pharmacies in France are significantly dissimilar.

The typical hours for pharmacies in France are between 9 a.m. and noon. After being closed from 12:45 to 1:30 for lunch, they will reopen and remain open until about 6:00. Some of them are open for business slightly later than others.

There is no such thing as a 24-hour pharmacy in France. Every city and municipality, however, is also obligated to maintain a “pharmacie de garde” that is open around the clock.

They switch pharmacies periodically too, so it’s not always the same one. These are to be used exclusively during non-business hours.

6. Although parapharmacies can operate alone, they are most commonly a part of a larger pharmacy.

Following pharmacy regulations, parapharmacies offer customers access to non-prescription products. Some supermarkets also feature pharmacies. A pharmacy attendant is always present in a grocery shop. The pharmacy is a separate, contained space within the supermarket, complete with its check-out counter.

Parapharmacies provide everything that may be purchased without a prescription, from toothbrushes and body washes to medications made solely of natural materials like plants or roots.

7. France has a pharmacy culture that promotes the use of all-natural products.

In France, a ministerial decree specifies which cosmetic products can be sold in pharmacies because of their potential negative effects on customers’ health. Also, this decree places a strong emphasis on the use of natural components.

Additionally, homeopathy has far more acceptance in France than in the United Kingdom, and homeopathic remedies may be found in abundance at French pharmacies.

8. Medicines are relatively inexpensive.

In most circumstances, the cost of medication is 50 percent to 90 percent cheaper than what it would be in the United States (even without any reimbursement from social security ).

The government sets the price of prescription drugs, so everyone pays the same amount. Each French pharmacy is free to determine its price for items like Advil and Maalox (within reason).

9. All of the people working in French pharmacies have trained in pharmacology.

It’s not unusual to know your pharmacist by name and to strike up 10-minute discussions with them. Picking up a prescription can be a great opportunity to have a health-related conversation, get some sound advice, or ask any unanswered questions you may have had about your health.

Every pharmacist in France has at least the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy and is, therefore, qualified to do more than merely ring you up and check data on a computer.

In addition, you won’t be able to see any OTC drugs from the front of the store. Over-the-counter medications such as Advil are accessible exclusively in pharmacies (not supermarkets) and require interaction with a pharmacist.

In France, several drugs that are sold over-the-counter elsewhere require a prescription. There is typically a distinction between brands as well. Always bring your prescriptions with you because doctors have a big book with the key elements of medicine and its French name.

10. Finding a French pharmacy open on a Sunday

It is common for pharmacies to be open from 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM, Monday through Saturday, with a lunchtime closure (12PM-2PM). However, there is always “une pharmacie de garde,” which should be utilized only in case of an emergency.

They are convenient since they are available around the clock, which is especially important when time is of the essence and treatment must be expedited.

In rural areas, people rotate between different roles, therefore the list is always available at the local hospital, doctor’s office, fire station, or police station.

The pharmacy typically has a beeper nearby. If you need something from the pharmacy, just give them a ring.