Suspicion of angina or cystitis. Patients can now have a diagnostic test at a pharmacy and, if necessary, receive antibiotic treatment without seeing a doctor.
After being published on Tuesday, all pharmacists will now be able to directly dispense drugs if they test positive for bacterial angina or cystitis, under certain conditions. of the decree, “Official Bulletin “.
From 2021, pharmacists can already prescribe antibiotics after rapid diagnostic orientation tests (Trod), which confirm the bacterial nature of tonsillitis and urinary tract infections. But this was possible only if they worked in health facilities where the doctor agreed to assign them the task.
The first direct deliveries to pharmacies can take place “within 15 days”, while the first pharmacists are completing online training to be able to carry out this direct delivery, Philippe Besset, president of the FSPF (Federation of Pharmacists France), told AFP. The ordinance implements a provision of the Social Security Financing Act of 2024.
After a positive test
In case of a positive test for bacterial angina, direct delivery is possible to patients over 10 years old, and to women aged 16 to 65 years, in case of non-febrile cystitis, without a doctor’s appointment. In case of a negative test, the pharmacist is paid 10 euros, in case of a positive result, 15 euros.
This direct delivery by pharmacists is part of an ongoing effort to ease the burden on physicians in the context of medical desertification.
Other decisions that move toward greater sharing of tasks with doctors await health professionals, who hope they will emerge before legislative elections and a change of government.