A 15% tax on pharmacy groupings may cost each pharmacy €6,000 annually, prompting fears of sector concentration and reduced services for small pharmacies.
Tax on pharmacy groupings raises concerns
According to Federgy and the UDGPO, a proposed 15 percent tax on pharmacy groupings could cost each pharmacy around 6,000 euros annually. This potential tax would be an indirect burden on pharmacies, requiring them to find ways to cover the additional costs.Groupings face three possible responses
To manage the new financial pressure, pharmacy groupings could increase member contributions, reduce refunds, or cut services. These options could affect the availability of essential services like training, digital tools, and public health initiatives, especially for small pharmacies.Small pharmacies could be most affected
Small pharmacies are particularly vulnerable because they rely heavily on groupings to access resources like digital tools and negotiate better deals with drug manufacturers. They lack the volume of activity to secure these benefits independently, making them more dependent on shared resources.Pharmacists value groupings for economic performance
A PharmedInsight survey cited by the National Collective of Pharmacy Groupings (CNGPO) found that 92 percent of respondents view their grouping as crucial for economic performance. However, concerns remain about potential sector consolidation that might harm smaller and regional pharmacies.FSPF supports tax with financial return
The Federation of French Pharmaceutical Unions (FSPF) argues that the 120 million euros in tax revenue could fund reforms in official remuneration during upcoming negotiations. However, it is unclear whether all of this money will be passed on to pharmacies, leading to disagreement with the USPO, which prefers alternative funding methods.New transparency rules for groupings
Article 10 introduces financial transparency requirements for pharmacy groupings, mandating annual reports on services and remuneration. The Order of Pharmacists will oversee contracts between groupings and owners, but the key question remains whether pharmacists will ultimately benefit financially from these changes.
