Pharmacists may soon prescribe treatments and vaccines as France's National Order of Pharmacists unveils a 33-point plan to expand their role in healthcare.
Pharmacists' roadmap unveiled
The National Order of Pharmacists has released a detailed plan with 33 proposals for the next five years, following a public consultation that ran from May 20 to June 10, 2026, and collected 1,149 responses. The organization aims to shape the future of healthcare through these proposals, which it describes as practical and focused on public discussion.Expanding pharmacist responsibilities
One of the key proposals allows pharmacists to start certain first-line treatments while patients wait for a medical appointment. This would be guided by national decision trees that outline specific situations, intervention limits, and when to refer to a physician. The plan also includes giving pharmacists more authority to handle common conditions such as dental pain, migraines, and herpes.Focus on elderly care
The roadmap highlights the importance of improving care for the elderly. It proposes home visits by pharmacists, the preparation of doses to administer (PDA), and a stronger role for pharmacists in deprescribing—reviewing and reducing unnecessary medications. Data from the 2027 Charges and Products report shows that nearly half of hospitalized patients aged 75 and older had at least one inappropriate prescription in 2024.Early detection of health issues
Pharmacists would also conduct interviews to detect early signs of health fragility, including cognitive disorders, fall risks, malnutrition, sensory issues, or social isolation. This would extend the role of pharmacies beyond just dispensing medications to supporting home care more broadly.Prevention and vaccination efforts
The Order also wants to expand pharmacists' roles in prevention, including prescribing and administering vaccines for travelers and malaria prevention treatments. It advocates for cardiovascular risk screenings in pharmacies and greater involvement in identifying mental health issues among young people. Digital tools could support these efforts by providing personalized health messages based on individual risk factors.
