Leclerc wants to sell non-reimbursed drugs

Leclerc “will sell cheaper, between 25 and 30% compared to a pharmacy price” “Today, there is not really much competition between pharmacies (…), there is a gap from one to two in the prices of pharmacy products. So, we will try to put a little competition in this sector, “explained on Monday on Canal + Michel-Edouard Leclerc, boss of the French large-scale distribution group. The battle of the food giant against pharmacies therefore seems well and truly relaunched.

After the drugstore, the Leclerc group now wants to sell non-reimbursed drugs called “OTC” (over the counter, counter product) in its stores “To sell dermo-cosmetics and infant milk, we have the pharmacist therefore , from the moment they are with us, we aim to sell drugs, especially drugs that are no longer reimbursed, which are no longer reimbursable “, he said, stressing that it is about a “blow to the purchasing power of patients, consumers”. To remedy this, Leclerc announces that it wants to lower the price of the drug not reimbursed.

For the moment, this initiative comes up against French legislation. Pharmacies still have a monopoly on drugs. For some, a brake on the freedom of movement of products, in force within the European Union, it is justified on the part of drug professionals by a concern for public health. In addition, a good territorial network of pharmacies and an efficient system of on-call pharmacies are all arguments put forward by pharmacists to avoid this liberalization of the pharmaceutical market.
There remains an example for Leclerc, that of Sweden. A country where the state still recently held a monopoly on pharmacies. Since November 1, 2009, Sweden has completely liberalized the sector of the sale of medicines. Today, Swedes over the age of 18 can, like their Danish and Norwegian neighbors, buy non-prescription drugs in most shops, including petrol stations. A solution adopted in a country where pharmaceutical deserts are numerous, 300 km sometimes separating two pharmacies.