SURPRISING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PHARMACIES IN FRANCE VS. USA

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French pharmacies are a huge part of French culture and are worth a visit on your next trip to France. You'll go to a pharmacy in France for OTC and prescription medicines, parapharmacy products, and sometimes advice. How do French pharmacies differ from ones in the USA? Let's compare French and American pharmacies. I point out similarities and differences.

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Salut! I'm Diane, the American behind the living abroad lifestyle blog Oui In France. My channel's focus is "Everyday French life and beyond," so let me know what you want to see! I make videos on French culture topics, food, travel, language, and give you my thoughts about what it's like living in France as an American in the Loire Valley. Thanks for being here and if you enjoy this sort of thing, please share with friends and subscribe!

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▶️ *TRAVEL* ✈️

▶️ *FRENCH PHARMACY* 💄

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#frenchpharmacy #pharmaciesinfrance #frenchculture

[RGSuperfan]

Yes, we have very well trained pharmacist here. One day I went to the pharmacy with my prescription, from my doctor, and the pharmacist said something like "no, those 2 medecines don't mix. I'll call your doctor" . She called my doctor in front of me, and my doctor admitted she was wrong, and changed the prescription. I really appreciated that.

[armelle]

in french pharmacies, you can bring mushrooms for the pharmacist to check the good one from the mortal one .

[ansapo]

I remember when pharmacies in the US were more like French pharmacies, family-owned and more helpful over the counter, with advice. And you know it used to be illegal to advertise drugs in magazines, TV etc over here, too. Ah, the good old days. When people mattered more than profits.

[amelieferrando]

Things you forgot to mention about pharmacies in France :
- you can get minor medical data, like they will often have blood pressure equipment
- you can bring your mushrooms to know if they are goot to eat or not
- some of the treatments that are not to be sold without prescriptions, the pharmacist can decide to sell to you on his own advice. Imagine you have a finger sprain, the pharmacist can decide to sell you some category II cream. Or, if you are on some oral contraceptive, and you're on vacation, the pharmacist could decide to sell you one pack event if you do not have prescription.

[jennydumenigo]

As a pharmacist I would like to say a couple of things in our defense in the US we have to deal with hundreds of different health plans that each have different formularies I spend hours every day at work on the phone with insurance companies or doctors trying to get medication covered or changed by the doctor in France there is 1 national health plan I believe there is now a supplement to cover the percentage that is not covered by it and that foreigners can buy an insurance after 3 months of residence in France so French pharmacist don't have to navigate through hundreds of plans in order to fill a prescription just 2 or 3 options or you pay cash that explains part of the no waiting it also helps that as you yourself said they don't have to count the medication I do envy them for that btw. But I agree I have traveled to France and I have visited pharmacies there and have had several interesting conversations with the pharmacist there to compare notes and yes the training in France is better both for the pharmacist and for the staff and that is my unbiased but educated assessment. Ps great video I actually found you because of your tour of a French pharmacy video.

[Fred_ou]

In France pharmacists are also trained to tell edible mushrooms from poisonous ones. So normally you can go to a pharmacy and ask whether the mushrooms you picked in the woods are good or not.

[athanase]

Nice subject, Diane.
One raison of our strange behavior toward pharmacists is the statute of the profession. A pharmacist is a Doctor, like a physician. They have an organization ('The Order of Pharmacists' which, like the Order of Physicians, regulates the organization of medicine in France). It's a pofession strongly reguled. so, French peoples have real confidence in their pharmacists. Their skills are normally very important (commonly 6 to 9 years of study). It can happen, legally, that the pharmacist questions the doctor's prescription. He is responsible for identifying incompatibilities, dosage errors and more. All of this probably explains part of our relationship to medicine and medication.

Nice vidéo. I love your little wink videos that you sprinkle your subject. And I really like your outdoor shots.

You make my day every time
Thank you !

[Pinerocks]

As a Brit I love French pharmacies, they just seem to have class. Having said that I always enjoy the American ones when I visit there - where else would I buy my fall decorations?! Lol

[pjalexandra]

I remember when living in France (I'm Canadian) my first impression was that half the 'drugstore' was missing. Over time I got used to it and was quite relieved at how simple, focused, and relatively uncommercial it was. As well as yes, having expert advice from the pharmacists.

[paulfaulkner]

The pharmacy we use (in rural SW France) is open 8.30 - 7.00 p.m. and whilst the staff go home for lunch between 12 and 2, the pharmacist (M. Marsaud hisself) stays on duty during this period. Also, if they don't have your particular medicine in stock, there are 2 deliveries a day so you never have to wait more than 'til the following morning if your visit is in the afternoon. I have a particular ordonnance which they don't habitually stock so I ring up to order it in the morning and it's ready for collection that afternoon. BTW, it costs €78 but since I have an ongoing chronic condition which has been accepted by the social security office, it is free, paid for by the state. That's what we pay our taxes for!

[carolynlarke]

The level of knowledge and willingness to assist by pharmacie staff is so nice. Love France. Love the Loir valley and especially loved the city of Tours. Still mulling over moving there permanently as my city in the US becomes less livable.

[kimberlypiter]

We just moved this year to France and per your recommendation for mosquitoes bites picked up a bottle of Synthol. It works wonderfully at taking the itch out!! Thank you!

[mib]

My Walgreen's employs students from pharmacy school so the clerks are pretty well versed in medications, side effects, etc and can answer a lot of questions. I love your channel and wish you well!

[juliennapoli]

8:34 we have a cute word for this : la bobologie (bobo = minor wounds)
Some can also treat your wound and apply a band-aid. They are also allowed to measure your temperature and blood pressure if you have a condition that needs these things to be regularly monitored.
Like a doctor, pharmacist can build a relationship with you and know you well.

[always.wondering.wandering]

I love European pharmacies. We were in Italy getting ready to leave on a cruise and the day before my friend got an eye infection from some older mascara. I took her to the pharmacy showed the pharmacist her eye and asked for some drops. No problem, asked about allergies and then gave her some drops to treat it.

[jaykilborn]

I live in France and sometime my pharmacy doesn't have the medicine and I have to come back the next day. My wife needs an expensive medication. She has to call the pharmacy to place an order. It takes about 24 hours to fill the order. Also, items like toothpaste and tooth brushes are cheaper if you buy them in the supermarket.

[juliebilmes]

That's very interesting, in Canada our pharmacies are similar to American ones though over the counter medication is much cheaper and most people have insurance to reduce the cost. Things like Tylenol and Midol are cheaper in the US but an epipen or pink eye treatment is much cheaper in Canada.

[waltsous]

In France also there are large pharmacy grouping brands such as the Giphar group, Lafayette pharmacy, pharmavie, pharmaprix, Mediprix ...

[kibaanazuka]

I remember having good experiences with French pharmacies when visiting this year. Very helpful with getting the COVID Pass and getting tested as a tourist.

[apoathena]

You mentioned about over the counter medicine and if you think about it, for a lot of people in Europe that's normal to ask for imodium etc without feeling embarrassed that someone might deduce that you need it because you have diarrhea. Same thing goes for plan B or pregnancy tests. In the US most people would either be embarrassed to have to ask or wouldn't even ask if it wasn't available on the shelves.