Mandatory e-prescription since the end of 2024, the integration of pharmacies into the France health network, the expansion of vaccination acts: the regulatory framework has changed more in eighteen months than in the previous decade. These developments are reshaping the daily lives of pharmacy teams and require a rapid update of tools, skills, and internal organization.
E-prescription in pharmacies: the friction points that publishers do not resolve alone
Since December 31, 2024, all doctors are required to generate electronic prescriptions. In theory, the flow is simple: the prescriber submits the prescription, and the pharmacist retrieves it via a QR code or the DMP. In practice, several bottlenecks persist.
The first concerns the compatibility of pharmacy management software (LGO) with MSSanté flows. Not all publishers have completed their compliance with Ségur wave 2, which creates breaks in the chain when reading the QR code. We observe that pharmacies equipped with a certified Ségur LGO process dematerialized prescriptions without manual intervention, while others must partially re-enter the data.
The second point pertains to team training. Scanning a QR code is not enough: it is necessary to know how to manage cases of partially dematerialized prescriptions (paper prescription + digital part), duplicates in the DMP, and transmission refusals by the patient. The resources available on pharmactuelle.fr allow for tracking regulatory developments and field feedback on these topics.
France health circular: what the integration of pharmacies in under-served areas changes
The interministerial circular of June 16, 2026 paves the way for the integration of community pharmacies into the France health network. The target: areas under-served by general practitioners, where the pharmacy becomes an entry point in primary care pathways.
The text does not currently provide for dedicated funding. This is the critical point. The pharmacy must absorb an increased volume of missions (guidance, TROD, vaccination) without specific additional remuneration at this stage. For the concerned pharmacists, this means making trade-offs between time spent at the counter and time dedicated to these new missions.
In practical terms, we recommend that pharmacists located in identified areas map out the acts they can perform (TROD for sore throat, TROD for cystitis, vaccination) and assess the average time per act. The absence of funding does not exempt from organizational compliance, as the circular sets a framework that the ARS will implement locally.
Vaccination and TROD in pharmacies: actual scope and logistical constraints
Pharmacists can now prescribe and administer all vaccines from the vaccination schedule to individuals aged eleven and older. The expansion also includes TROD for sore throat, cystitis, and colorectal screening. This expanded scope transforms the pharmacy into a place for rapid diagnosis and active prevention.
The operational implementation poses three types of constraints:
- Setting up a confidential space compliant with ARS requirements, with a water point, minimum surface area, and a patient circuit distinct from the counter flow
- Managing the cold chain for vaccines, which requires a dedicated refrigerator with continuous temperature recording and a recall procedure in case of a breach
- Traceability of acts in the DMP and dispensing software, with systematic transmission to the treating physician via MSSanté
On this last point, traceability in the DMP conditions the reimbursement of the act. A vaccination not recorded in the DMP is not billable to Health Insurance. Teams must integrate this step into their dispensing protocol, not as an afterthought.
Pharmaceutical groups and network strategy: the trade-offs of 2026
The role of pharmaceutical groups is evolving beyond that of a purchasing center. Pharmacies affiliated with a group generally benefit from support in digital compliance (Ségur, e-prescription) and in deploying new missions. The question for the pharmacist owner is what their group truly offers on these subjects.
Several criteria deserve careful examination:
- Access to a certified Ségur wave 2 LGO with dedicated technical support, and not just a publisher listing
- A continuing education program on TROD and vaccination, with integrated regulatory updates
- Support for setting up the confidential space, including a specifications document compliant with regional ARS requirements
Choosing a group in 2026 is no longer just about the discount rate on generics. It is the capacity to support new missions that differentiates the networks.
Pharmacy team skills: the real lever for adaptation
All the described developments (e-prescription, TROD, vaccination, integration into France health) converge towards the same observation: technology and regulation are advancing faster than the upskilling of teams. The pharmacist owner is responsible for training their assistants in new acts, handling digital tools, and patient relations in a primary care context.
DPC training oriented towards pharmacy now includes modules on QR code reading, TROD management, and vaccination. We observe that pharmacies that plan these trainings in advance, rather than in response to an obligation, better absorb the workload related to new missions.
The pharmacist of 2026 is no longer just a dispenser. They coordinate a primary care point with logistical, digital, and regulatory constraints that require rigorous organization and constant vigilance.