After a year marked by economic tensions and industry-wide protests, community pharmacies are entering 2026 in a context that is both uncertain and ripe for major transformation. Changes to the business model, the expanding role of pharmacists in primary care, regulatory shifts, and new patient expectations: these challenges also present real opportunities for pharmacies capable of looking ahead. Luc Besançon, General Delegate of NèreS, shares his take on the challenges ahead and his vision for the pharmacy of tomorrow.

 

Agnes Jacobs: After a summer marked by tensions and protests, the fall began with a mixed picture for community pharmacies. The year 2026 also holds uncertainties, but also progress and opportunities. What are your predictions and hopes for community pharmacies in 2026?

Luc Besançon: I see several changes on the horizon. At first glance, the economic conditions facing pharmacies—driven primarily by rising costs, particularly labor costs, and a deteriorating financial balance within the national health insurance system—will continue to worsen. This will result in a slight decline in pharmacy profitability. To counter these effects, what tools are available to pharmacists?

One of the ways—though not the only one—is to consider whether the over-the-counter market, that is, the sale of non-prescription products, can enable pharmacists to stabilise or even increase their profitability while meeting the expectations of patients who want an immediate solution to prevent or treat their health issues.

On the bright side: if the pharmacy has a clear vision and strategy for its operations and growth, these challenges can lead to new opportunities—expanding services can attract more regular foot traffic to the pharmacy, leading to additional or impulse purchases. Thus, if the pharmacy positions itself as a genuine solution to the challenges facing the healthcare system and its local community, its future will be secure.

 

AJ: Given the major reforms currently underway in European and French pharmaceutical legislation, what do you see as the key regulatory changes that NèreS is advocating for, and which are likely to have the most direct impact on French pharmacies in the coming years?

LB: As is the case every year, the first major change is an increase in the number of medications that pharmacists can dispense without a prescription: delisting. This is crucial because these products meet a patient need, strengthen the pharmacist’s role as a primary care provider, and, in some cases, generate slightly higher profits.

Next, there is the issue of ensuring that the pharmacy’s role as a primary care provider is visible and fully recognised. The pharmacy of the future will be a health hub fully integrated into the local health and social care ecosystem… and its economic counterpart through both the national health insurance agreement and other sources of funding (local and regional funding, direct patient payments, etc.).

In addition, the new code of ethics for pharmacists will bring about changes in the pharmacy ecosystem, particularly with regard to communication, advertising, and commercial activities.

 

AJ: One of the major themes at PharmagoraPlus this year is the evolving role of the pharmacist—from a mere dispenser to a fully integrated player in the continuum of care. How is NèreS supporting the pharmacy sector in France to meet growing expectations regarding prevention, vaccination, and the management of chronic diseases?

LB: We talk more about "health pathways" than "care pathways," because pharmacists don't just provide care—they also focus on prevention and well-being, which is all part of health.

Our goal is to ensure that primary care in France develops to the same level as in other European countries, where pharmacies play an even more important role.

In our view, the future of the pharmacy rests on two pillars:

1. Primary care that is practical, effective, and focused on providing guidance.

2. A different approach to caring for patients with chronic conditions, which involves long-term support, adherence, and motivation.

Prevention fits into both of these time frames: either in response to a specific need or as part of the ongoing care of a patient with a chronic condition. In any case, prevention can be a key factor in building patient loyalty—whether the patients are young, occasional visitors, those with chronic conditions, or regular users.

Expectations and support methods vary depending on the type of patient, which sometimes requires different skills. We are working to help pharmacies effectively address both of these dynamics.

 

AJ: Finally, in your opinion, why should pharmacists attend PharmagoraPlus 2026?

LB: Pharmagora is a major conference for community pharmacies. It’s the place where you can engage with the entire ecosystem: from service providers and associations to companies that manufacture or market products through community pharmacies.

It is also an opportunity to learn from the lectures and workshops, which help my fellow pharmacists build their skills and stimulate their thinking.