"It will cause closures": why are pharmacists calling for a strike in the middle of August?

Pharmacists are making their anger heard and could close their doors in the middle of August. To protest a new measure that could impact the survival of their pharmacies, pharmacists' unions are calling for a strike starting August 16.

While they used to benefit from a discount of up to 40% on bulk orders of generic drugs, since August 1st, this has been reduced to 20%. And this could have real consequences for pharmacies .

"We must show the State that if these disastrous measures come into force, this loss will threaten jobs and cause closures," said Pierre-Olivier Variot, president of the Union of Pharmacists' Unions, on RMC .

These announcements are all the more damaging for pharmacies, as some of them are already experiencing financial difficulties.

"Today, around 30% of pharmacies across the country are very tight on cash flow," says Pierre-Olivier Variot, who fears that many establishments will become impoverished and end up closing their doors.

According to the Union of Pharmacists' Unions (USPO), the strike should alert the government to the "major difficulties" this reduction will cause. According to Philippe Besset, president of the Federation of Pharmacists' Unions (FSPF), the shortfall would be equivalent to €600 million per year.

In total, 800 pharmacies in France are threatened with closure.