French pharmacists push to expand over-the-counter drug list for cost savings and easier access
Pharmacy unions in France have submitted a proposal to add 33 priority medicines to the over-the-counter list, arguing it would cut health-insurance spending and free up doctors’ time.
France’s main pharmacy unions, the FSPF and Uspo, have put forward a list of 33 medicines they deem appropriate for over-the-counter sale, arguing that pharmacist-guided dispensing would reduce the burden on doctors and lower costs for the Assurance maladie. The selected drugs cover common conditions such as skin problems, joint pain, digestive issues, fungal infections, allergic rhinitis, occasional insomnia, nausea and dental pain pending a consultation.
According to NéreS, eight European nations already allow 133 medicines to be bought without a prescription, and roughly fifty of those are currently prescription-only in France. The ANSM, which regulates drug availability, has only authorized tranexamic acid for non-prescription use in 2025. Fabrice Camaioni, vice-president of the FSPV, emphasized that the proposal draws on neighboring countries’ practices and is both reasonable and expected by pharmacists.
