Yasmina Kattou / photo credit: LUDOVIC MARIN / AFP
Between 2015 and 2020, more than 20,000 euros in gifts were offered according to “Mediapart” to Agnès Firmin-Le Bodo, who has just left the Ministry of Health. In this scandal called the “Urgo affair”, the gratification offered was in exchange for a waiver by the pharmacist of a commercial discount from the laboratory to the pharmacy. If the practice is banned, is it still used?
She had shaken the appointment of Agnès Firmin-Le Bodo in December to the Ministry of Health: the Urgo affair. Gifts offered to the elected official between 2015 and 2020, at more than 20,000 euros according to Mediapart. A free bonus, in exchange for a waiver by the pharmacist of a commercial discount from the Urgo laboratory to the pharmacy. This prohibited practice concerned a large number of pharmacists and the laboratory was sentenced in January 2023 to a fine of 1.125 million euros by the Dijon criminal court, after an investigation by the repression of fraud.
However, what is the situation today? It seems that the gift policy is no longer on the agenda in pharmacies. The anti-gift law has existed since 1998 for pharmacists. It was strengthened in 2020. The rule is simple: for pharmacists, doctors, and other health professionals, it is prohibited to accept rewards in kind or in cash. In case of non-compliance, the sanction is severe. Enough to cool those who might be tempted.
Compliance with the law
“It’s one year’s imprisonment and a fine of 75,000 euros. A sentence which can go as far as being banned from working. So he obviously has a lot to lose by doing it and we must not play with this rule “, explains Philippe Besset, president of the Federation of Pharmaceutical Unions of France. According to the pharmacist, today pharmacies respect the law. “There are no longer any pharmacists who have personal benefits from laboratories, it’s over,” he assures.
Today, pharmacists can still receive small benefits: for example 30 euros in meal costs twice a year, or even product samples, for a total of 60 euros per year maximum.