On June 11 in Paris, about a dozen key players in the pharmaceutical industry gathered to discuss the future of the pharmaceutical sector in France, with the aim of defining the main priorities of the 2026 trade show’s policy agenda.

After a brief review of 2025, the committee discussed various topics, keeping the future of community pharmacies at the center of the discussion.

 

The mental health of pharmacy staff: who looks after the caregivers?

There’s no point in denying the obvious: being a community pharmacist is a stressful job. More than ever, pharmacists must deal with shortages, economic pressures, and sometimes even violence—not to mention team management and constant contact with sick patients.

With a focus on mental health in 2025 (designated the National Cause of the Year that year), now is the time for stakeholders in the pharmaceutical industry to rally behind the mental health of healthcare workers and take concrete steps to improve their daily lives.

This is an issue that the steering committee considers particularly important and will address in greater detail.

 

Shortages: An Ongoing Problem—Are There New Solutions?

The issue of shortages and how to address them is, unfortunately, nothing new. But perhaps it is time to reexamine it from a different perspective: that, at any rate, was the point raised by the committee during the meeting. The committee focused on three areas: how to better anticipate shortages, how to address them, and the role of digital technology. This last point sparked a lively debate—but the committee agreed on one thing: digital technology is one solution among many, but not the only solution. Another question addressed: can the French pharmacy sector draw inspiration from practices in other countries? After all, shortages are not exclusively a French problem…

 

Economy vs. Ecology: How Can We Strike the Right Balance?

Generally speaking, the entire sector agrees that decarbonizing French pharmacies is essential to addressing environmental, economic, and public health challenges. But one challenge remains: how to strike a balance between doing the right thing and maintaining financial stability, particularly in retail pharmacies.

The steering committee discussed ways to address this issue at the 2026 trade show. The consensus was clear: to highlight practical solutions across the entire supply chain and share concrete ideas for strengthening cooperation among pharmacists, pharmaceutical companies, government agencies, and patients.

During the morning, the steering committee discussed a variety of issues critical to the future of community pharmacies in France. The agenda for the 2026 Professional Forum will certainly include a review of the agreement, as well as a political outlook for the pharmaceutical sector in the context of the presidential and municipal elections.

Other topics under consideration for the 2026 Professional Forum include: tele-expertise and the pharmacist’s role in telehealth, the ethical and digital challenges of e-pharmacy, and new business models.

 

The PharmagoraPlus 2026 program promises to be relevant, useful, and a must-attend event. A big thank you to the steering committee for their time and valuable contributions so far—the work continues!