France's pharmacists hit back at competition

French pharmacists have launched protests against the campaign by one of the country's leading retailers, the Leclerc group (Marketletter April 14), to allow non-reimbursed prescription drugs to be sold at discount rates outside pharmacies. The retail giant claims it would offer 25% rebates to customers if the French government opened up the market. In the southern departement of l'Herault, a local pharmacists' union (CSPH) has decided to sell groceries, such as tinned peas or washing powder, for one month. The idea is to drive home the message that drugs must not be considered equal to other retail products, the group explained.

In a separate development, the TF1 television network reports that a pharmacy group, Univers Pharmacie, has applied for a legal order to demand that Leclerc withdraws its advertising campaign, to promote the case for deregulation. The plaintiff is requesting damages of 20,000 euros (about $39,700) per day that the low-cost retailer fails to comply.