Tonsillitis and cystitis: Pharmacists may dispense antibiotics without a prescription under certain conditions

Do you have a very sore throat, or a feeling of having a urinary tract infection? You can now go directly to your pharmacist. After a series of questions to make sure that your condition does not require a medical consultation, he will be able to have you perform a test in a dedicated room.

The dispensing of antibiotic treatment without a prescription by pharmacists is authorized if Sore throat or simple cystitis are confirmed by rapid diagnostic referral testing (TROD).

Pharmacists must have completed a compulsory specific training in order to be able to issue; the detailed rules are set out in theorder of 17 june 2024.

How does the device work in a pharmacy?

The authorized pharmacist may dispense medicines without a prescription:

1. People over 10 years of age with symptoms suggestive of angina.
   
   • The pharmacist does a TROD to rule out or confirm a streptococcal A bacterial origin: this is a small sample with a swab at the back of the throat.
   • If the test is positive, it can deliver the appropriate antibiotics, taking into account the age of the patient.
2. Women aged 16 to 65 years with symptoms suggestive of simple cystitis without fever.

• The pharmacist does a urine test on a strip.
• If the result is positive, they can deliver appropriate antibiotic therapy.

The medicine is dispensed without a prescription by the pharmacist, with the appropriate dosage, after checking that there is no contraindication for the patient.

A certificate of issue for the patient

In the case of a positive test leading to the supply of medicinal product, a certificate of issue is given to the patient.

The pharmacist should also record the dispensing information in the patient’s Shared Medical Record (DMP) (pharmacist’s practice name, date the test was performed, unique identification of the test, name of the drug dispensed, dosage and duration of treatment).

If registration in the shared medical file is not possible, the pharmacist transmits the attestation to the attending physician, via the secure health messaging system.