France's Social Security savings on drugs

The Director of France's National Sickness Insurance Funds (CNAM), Frederic van Roekeghem, has confirmed a fall of 1.8% in the reimbursement of drugs in the first quarter of this year, compared with the like-period of 2007. Speaking to the daily La Tribune, the CNAM's Director explained that "it is probable that the French have adopted a more parsimonious management of their household pharmacy supplies: they first check that they don't have a given medicine before acquiring more of it."

The "franchise effect" is considered to have reduced drug wastage and over-stocking. For prescription drugs, a levy of 0.50 euros ($0.77) per item is collected, with a yearly maximum per patient of 50 euros for all fees.