When can a pharmacist give an antibiotic without a prescription?

Verified 15 July 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

After a positive test detects a case of angina or cystitis, a pharmacist can deliver an antibiotic.

Trained pharmacists can do a rapid diagnostic orientation test (Trod) if they suspect the following:

  • DThroat in children from 10 years of age and in adults when the person’s symptoms warrant testing
  • Or simple urinary tract infection (UTI)cystitis) for women aged between 16 and 65.

Before performing any of these tests, the pharmacist checks that the patient does not meet an exclusion criterion (e.g. pregnancy or pregnancy not excluded; immunosuppression - a failing immune system; risk of immunosuppression due to a disease - HIV - or to a medicine; insufficient collection of medical information: lack of command of the French language).

If positive test confirming the infection, the pharmacist may prescribe antibiotics.

FYI  

The support of these tests by the Health Insurance is 70%.

The rest is covered by a mutual.