The Pharmacy profession is faced with a deepening crisis as Chemist owners in France threaten to go on strike in a rare protest against unfair competition. Reports have it that hundreds of frustrated pharmacists could bring the country’s pharmacies to a grinding halt unless the government takes action to address their grievances.
The main grievance is the unfair competition posed by online competitors and a number of large discounts stores that are able to undercut traditional pharmacies by offering cheaper prices. This has resulted in a slump in sales for independent chemists and pharmacists who are struggling to make ends meet.
The expected strike could be the first of its kind to be staged by pharmacists in France in decades. The AspiraPhARM, a national association of chemists, plans to stage a major protest in Paris on the 4th of August if the French government fails to address their grievances.
Despite the rising pressure, the government has so far refused to budge. It claims that competition is healthy and has refused to hear the pleas of the Chemists. The government insists that it is the responsibility of the chemists to adopt a competitive approach to attract customers.
In view of the sticating position of the government, the pharmacists are now threatening to go on strike if their requests are not met. If they proceed with their protest, it is expected that it could result in a significant disruption of the country’s healthcare system. This is because patients would be deprived of access to medications and would not be able to get their regular medications on the cheap.
The pharmacists have found an unexpected ally in the form of labor unions. Unions across the country have lent their support to the protest and have called for the government to step in and resolve the issue.
Although it is uncertain how the government will respond to the protest, it is clear that the issue is a major one for the Pharmacy industry. Without a resolution, the future of chemists across the country is uncertain which raises serious questions about the access of French citizens to affordable medicines.