In order to facilitate access to certain vaccines, the National Assembly passed an amendment allowing pharmacists and midwives to prescribe them. Some medicines can also be delivered without a prescription.
Members of the National Assembly authorize pharmacists to deliver certain vaccines. They voted for an amendment along these lines, as part of the health bill. The objective is to strengthen vaccination coverage in France, at a time when the World Health Organization (WHO) ranks anti-vaccines among the big threats to health this year 2019.
Last fall, four regions experimented with vaccination against influenza by pharmacists. The operation was such a success that some pharmacies very quickly found themselves out of stock. According to the rapporteur of the health bill, Thomas Meunier (La République en Marche), European law now considers that the flu vaccine is a mandatory prescription.
More skills for midwives
Another amendment was passed, this time expanding the skills of midwives. They will be able to prescribe and perform vaccinations on children. The conditions are defined by decree. “In the logic of simplifying the vaccination course, I have contacted the HAS (High Health Authority, editor’s note) for an opinion on the expansion of the vaccination capacities of health professionals, including midwives. Its opinion must be made in 2019, but this amendment paves the way, even if it will be up to the HAS to decide and a decree to fix the authorized vaccines”, declares the Minister of Health, Agnès Buzyn.
Pharmacists authorized to “troubleshoot” for certain drugs
In addition, certain drugs, usually issued under prescription, may be distributed by pharmacists. These treatments concern benign pathologies, such as cystitis or certain angina. The objective is to allow pharmacists to “help out” patients in the event of a minor emergency, in particular when their doctor is not available. There too, the High Authority of Health (HAS) will have to set up a protocol. Pharmacists will undergo training.
“There is no question here of giving pharmacists the right to prescribe,” warns Thomas Meunier, the originator of this proposal. “What we want is to give French people access to additional care with the same quality, the same safety for everyday pathologies such as angina or cystitis, this simple urinary infection which can be treated with a dose of antibiotic,” he says.
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