The French still shun self-medication, according to the European Observatory on Self-medication. They spend little and infrequently in this area.
Self-medication, still shy in France. According to the 2e European Observatory on Self-medication, carried out by Celtipharm, the country uses self-medication less often than the average for other European countries (Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Belgium, Netherlands, Sweden).
Less than 3 euros disbursed
In France, self-medication occupies less space on the market than in other countries. It represents 15.7% of market share, against 25.7% on average. But above all, it is down slightly (-0.2 point) in France while it is progressing elsewhere (+2.5 points). An assessment which corresponds to the observation drawn up by the 2013 Afipa barometer, but to a lesser extent.
Not only do the French resort to self-medication less, but they also spend less. On average, a resident spends 2.7 euros per month in this sector, against 3.5 on average in Europe. But, as the Afipa barometer pointed out, medical devices and food supplements, more expensive than over-the-counter drugs, are more attractive to the French.
A favorable environment
If self-medication does not meet with success in France, it is not for lack of arguments. The prices of medicines available without a prescription are rather cheap compared to the European average: 4.5 euros against 6.2 euros. It is not either for lack of available specialty: of the 209 molecules open to self-medication, 91 of those sold in at least one of the 8 countries could be in France. “Our country is still too timid to initiate strong measures in favor of this practice”, analyzes Pascal Brossard, president of Afipa. “Simple initiatives – such as the delisting of certain molecules currently subject to medical prescription – are however possible and would be beneficial for all” pleads the latter. Others criticize the pharmaceutical monopoly, which limits the availability of self-medication specialties.
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