Healthcare in France: I Love our Pharmacies

Beth, our resident expert and storyteller from the picturesque Tarn-et-Garonne, invites us to explore the essential role of pharmacies in everyday French life. With France’s abundance of well-qualified, knowledgeable pharmacists, a trip to the local chemist is often the first step when you feel unwell.

Beth shares her experience navigating this uniquely French approach to healthcare and reveals how a simple trip to the chemist can highlight the warmth and quirks of living in France.

“In the spirit of Saint Valentine, this feels like an ode to a loved one. In a way, it is. But why do I love our pharmacies? Aside from being greeted by a team of friendly faces each time I visit, there are several reasons.

Trained Pharmacists

Every pharmacy is run by a professional pharmacist, trained at the same level as a general practitioner. They can create several different medicinal compounds and offer advice on various medical issues. They can also prescribe antibiotics for non-serious conditions, such as a bacterial sore throat or cystitis.

Ordonnances and Carte Vitale

• Pharmacies are where you go for ordonnances (prescriptions). Usually, the medicines are dispensed upon presentation of a carte vitale, which is credit card-sized and has an embedded microchip that certifies entitlement to Assurance maladie (French health insurance). It contains administrative information regarding the patient’s health insurance fund to reimburse their healthcare expenses. The pharmacy will update the information for you using a card reader.
• You will also be asked if you have a mutuelle, a top-up health insurance. If you do, you’ll probably be asked for documentary proof. For regular clients, the pharmacy generally keeps this information in your file, which is handy if you forget to bring your documents.
• In exceptional circumstances, if a repeat prescription expires before the patient sees their specialist, the pharmacist can supply the prescribed medicines to tide the patient over.
• Patients without a carte vitale must pay for prescribed medicines. They receive a Feuille de Soins (Care Sheet), which details the doctor and the prescribed medication. The form is completed and sent to the Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie (CPAM), the organisation that manages healthcare expenses for anyone registered with the social security system in France. Reimbursements should be issued once the claim has been processed; you can access and monitor them online with Ameli.

Vaccinations in France

Trained pharmacists can administer a range of vaccines, including those against diphtheria, tetanus, flu, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis, shingles, yellow fever and COVID-19. Exceptions apply to administering live vaccines, such as MMR and BCG, to immunocompromised patients.

Medical Equipment at Home

Patients prescribed special medical equipment for home can have it organised for delivery through their local pharmacy. It’s an invaluable service. They can help with the arrangements and complete the paperwork issued by the hospital/doctor/provider.

Mobility Aids and Orthotics

Pharmacies usually carry a comprehensive range of aids, from Zimmer frames to brace supports, wheelchairs and walking sticks. They operate a specialist fitting service and will order any items patients need that aren’t already in stock.

Health Tests and Products Offered

Pharmacies are great places to get tested for conditions relating to asthma, diabetes and blood pressure.

French pharmacies have you covered from mosquito repellents to skin care, baby care, vitamins, cosmetics, and herbal compounds, not to mention a range of tick, flea and worming treatments for cats and dogs.

Dangerous Mushrooms

The French, certainly in our area, are passionate fungi lovers, which, as we all know, is a potentially lethal pastime. During the picking season, clients regularly appear in our pharmacy with a bag of mushrooms, seeking identification help. Pharmacy specialists offer advice, including whether their harvest is toxic or safe to eat.

General Health Advice

Unsurprisingly, with such a comprehensive service, the pharmacy is normally the first port of call when a general medical issue occurs. Hushed chats take place between a pharmacist or assistant and the customer. Advice is given; in my experience, it usually focuses first on natural alternatives. Customers stand in line at a discrete distance. We all understand it takes time to chat through these matters. 

These are the places where pill boxes are filled for those who struggle to manage, and time is taken to explain dosages.

I can honestly say that I have never felt rushed in any of the pharmacies I have visited, and I can’t speak highly enough of these competent and caring teams. All in all, I’m a fan!”

Medical Care and Health Insurance in France

State public healthcare in France (Assurance maladie) is not free; costs are shared between the government and patient contributions. The government partially funds Medical treatments and tests, with the patient covering the remainder.

French state health insurance covers 70 to 100% of treatment costs, such as doctor visits and hospital stays. The part refunded by the French social security will soon drop from 70% to 60%. Patients will soon have to pay 40% plus any private fees charged for treatments, especially specialists and surgeons.

Families and expatriates in France are encouraged to take out top-up health insurance to avoid costs in case of illness or an accident. Top-up insurance will also fund some or all of your dental and optical care, depending on the coverage chosen, learn how to choose top-up healthcare insurance coverage.


Merci as always, Beth! For more real-life stories about living in southwest France, discover Beth’s collection of books on her website. Are you tempted to explore this area of southwest France?

Discover our top ten reasons to buy and live in the Aude or the Hérault departments in the Occitanie region.