Patf Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 Why are french pharmacies so posh and modern? Are they privately ownedand the owners very rich? Compared with other shops they are quiteluxurious.Also very well staffed. Pat. ps Saligo I've pinched this ideafrom you on another forum . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 Because they are palaces of hypochondria. If you are constantly in need of medication you naturally want somewhere plush to discuss it (and your symptoms) at length with a sympa pharmacien. And of course the turnover is great enough for him to be able to provide it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWINKLE Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 French pharmarcies - they are litteral gold mines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 It's all to do with the fact that when you go to a French doctor you never come out with a prescription for just one type of medication. It seems to be at least four different treatments, plus others for the ailments that you never knew you had before you went in. All of these have to be supplied by somebody, hence the proliferation of, as well as opulence of, the pharmacies. And if the pharmacies are like that, how much must the drug manufacturers be making?I'm sure the GPs must be on commission from the drug companies.On the other hand, it could be something to do with what they charge for a packet of paracetamol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 [quote user="Will "]On the other hand, it could be something to do with what they charge for a packet of paracetamol.[/quote] Which, of couse, you cannot buy off the supermarket shelves.Liz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterG Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 I must admit, it is a point I have noted before............Even in the smallest of towns there is a plethera of pharmacies and opticians. Are the Frech a nation of partially sighted hypochondriacs............. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjamin Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 Partially sighted....I don't know but hypocondriacs most certainly. One of the reasons in making people register with one doctor was to stop them trailing around all of the local surgeries to see who gave out the biggest prescription and who told them what they wanted to hear!Benjamin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoddy Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 "partially sighted hypochondriacs"This must explain why I have a high opinion of them !Hoddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprogster Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 I believe in the UK the market has been de-regulated, so supermarkets can compete with pharmacies by selling and discounting over the counter medicine.Not so in France where the pharmacies have a monopoly and are able to keep prices very high as a result. Also the range of over the counter medicine at pharmacies are far more limited in France.There was a proposal mooted in France last year to remove the monopoly of the pharmacies, but I do not know what progress that is making. Meanwhile stock up on your Beecham Powders when visting the UK!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardian Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 I'm greeted like a VIP when I go in to our local pharmacie - well sort-of, anyway!My wife's medication is astronomically expensive, but easy to dispense. I leave the prescription, drop by a day or two later, end of story.But I see people having interminable discussions over the what they require and taking away (literally) carrier-bag loads of dope - hope they aren't all suppositaries!I'm thinking of asking for a Carte de Fidelite at our local place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWINKLE Posted May 26, 2006 Share Posted May 26, 2006 You get free air miles when you buy your 2nd box of Prozac[:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted May 26, 2006 Share Posted May 26, 2006 And do you get a Speedferries voucher with each pack of travel sickness pills? [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cerise Posted May 26, 2006 Share Posted May 26, 2006 When I signed up with my (rather splendid) doctor, the neighbours warned me gloomily that he was 'no good'. When I asked why they said that you never came away with a nice lot of medication!!Cultural difference?Maggi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poppy Posted May 26, 2006 Share Posted May 26, 2006 Thank you Patf for posting about posh pharmacies. I have thought for a long time that they along with boulangeries always look very opulent even in the most rundown towns. Oops what does that say about the price of bread.Jan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jo53 Posted May 27, 2006 Share Posted May 27, 2006 What I don't like is that access even to the over-the-counter medications is interdit to mere mortals. I like to look at the boxes, read the labels and decide for myself what to buy. But no, it's all guarded by them in white coats!I'm surprised people find medicines in France expensive. In my experience, generic ibuprofen (Nurofen) or paracetamol is cheaper than in the UK. I think pharmacies make their money by all the other stuff they sell - the special toothpastes at four times the normal price, and the dodgy pseudo-scientific slimming pills. Actually I think it's pretty unethical to sell that stuff in a pharmacy - gives it a false air of medical respectability. And the claims on the display material are just outrageous, I don't know how they get away with it.Also you can't just pop into the chemist in town and buy some normal toothpaste or shampoo, you have to go to the out-of-town supermarket for that.Jo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loiseau Posted May 27, 2006 Share Posted May 27, 2006 Yes, last summer I saw in a flashy local pharmacie a stack of pills that claimed to help your child pass its exams...Not sure how much redress you would have if the kid ploughed them all in spite of taking the stated dose!Angela Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceni Posted May 27, 2006 Share Posted May 27, 2006 "Help" is not the same as "guarantee". But isn't there one born every minute ?Johnnot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathyC Posted May 27, 2006 Share Posted May 27, 2006 [quote user="Loiseau"]Yes, last summer I saw in a flashy local pharmacie a stack of pills that claimed to help your child pass its exams...[/quote]That's not just France, you can get similar in the UK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
opas Posted May 27, 2006 Share Posted May 27, 2006 We have 3 phamacies in our local town, we frequent one inparticular because he has free weigh scales just inside the door! anyway they have just had a major revamp and the shop was halved for a couple of weeks. Last week I went into weigh only, The Pharmacist came from behind the counter with his arm extended and a big grin on his face (at this point I looked behind me to see who he was looking at) ah Bonjour Mme XXXXXXXXX, ca va (followed by la bisse) I nearly fell over with shock, I felt like a hyprochondriac(sp) We laughed afterwards at being on first name terms in a Chemist (I have only visited the doctor once in nearly 3 years here) I think he has Euro signs in his eyes at our youngest daughter!He has Those helter skelter things that the drugs arrive from upstairs on, our youngest is always wide eyed at the amount of stuff that `slides` down ready to be packed away into those quality carrier bags for their eager customers . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardian Posted May 27, 2006 Share Posted May 27, 2006 The pharmacie in our local village (800 souls) employs 5 or 6 Pharmacistes + the owner and his wife. Think of the cost of employment in the UK, let alone over here.Mind you, when the campsites get going (about now, actually), they'll all be in there for their 'dodgy tummy' stuff. To be fair, they're really helpful down there. But then, so would you be, eh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patf Posted May 27, 2006 Author Share Posted May 27, 2006 So the pharmacist gets a percentage of every item he/she sells? Someoneposted on here once that pharmacy is one of the highest paidprofessions. Pat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardian Posted May 27, 2006 Share Posted May 27, 2006 I'm sure they do. It may well be 'top-stopped', but even so, the turnover in our local place is mind-boggling. There are deliveries twice-daily (though that's probably no different to the UK) - but we are pretty rural. If I drop in my wife's prescription for a quite rare and pricey drug before 10-ish in the morning, it'll be there by 14.00. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitty Posted May 27, 2006 Share Posted May 27, 2006 The pharmacist in my small village employs at least three staff at all times (all in white coats) yet doesn't seem to have much stock. It is all oh so carefully displayed that you dare not touch it. Worming tablets, nit shampoo, zit cream - ghastly stuff. Who would want to be a pharmacist? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now