France tests medication supply monitoring

France is starting a three-month experiment on December 1, 2026, to track medication supply challenges by gathering data from 200 pharmacies. The goal is to better predict and reduce disruptions in patient care by analyzing how medications are stocked, dispensed, and ordered.

Participating pharmacies share weekly data

Pharmacies taking part will send weekly data from their management software to the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM). This includes the number of medication units in stock, the number of boxes given to patients, and the number of units ordered from suppliers.

Voluntary participation with specific requirements

Pharmacies can join the experiment voluntarily by registering online until October 30, 2026. To qualify, they must use one of four approved software systems, such as Crystal or Pharmony, and provide contact details, pharmacy identification, and a representative for technical support.

Data is not used for penalties or control

The collected data will not be used to impose penalties or conduct inspections. Patient and prescriber information will remain confidential. The initiative is temporary, meant to assess whether such data collection could help improve medication availability in the future.

Support from pharmacist unions

The Federation of French Pharmacists and the Union of Office Pharmacists Unions support the experiment. They believe it gives pharmacies a voice in health policy decisions by using real-time data to inform national strategies.