In May, the Federation of Pharmaceutical Unions of France (FSPF) announced that they had signed new pricing conditions with Health Insurance, committing the entire profession to the agreement. The FSPF revealed that the increases in dispensing fees, on-call fees, and payments would begin this year and next year. Additionally, pharmacies in difficulty could receive a subsidy of up to 20,000 euros.
However, the Union of Community Pharmacists’ Unions (Uspo) declined to sign the agreement immediately, citing concerns about the lack of commitment from the government to provide remuneration for the substitution of biosimilars. The president of the Uspo emphasized the need for increased fees for pharmacists and expressed doubts about the network’s future. The union stressed the importance of pharmacists’ role in saving health insurance money through appropriate medication substitutions.
The FSPF acknowledged these concerns but also pointed out that they had made progress with their agreement and new regulatory framework. While they were disappointed by Uspo’s decision not to sign, they believed that ongoing negotiations with Health Insurance and other stakeholders were necessary to address these challenges and ensure a sustainable future for pharmacies across France.
