At the conference “Pharmacy 2040: Reinventing the Business Model,” held at PharmagoraPlus 2026, Philippe Douste Blazy, Hervé Jouves, and Laurent Filoche made a clear observation: the pharmacy sector is at a critical turning point. 

More and more pharmacies are closing, and pharmacies are under economic pressure. Yet, according to Philippe Douste-Blazy, this is “the moment for pharmacists”: thanks to their expertise and close relationship with patients, they are poised to become an essential part of primary care. 

With an aging population and a rise in chronic diseases, the model focused on curative care is reaching its limits. Pharmacies must now play a key role in prevention, particularly through vaccinations, rapid tests (for COVID-19, the flu, blood sugar, cholesterol, colorectal cancer screening, etc.), and lifestyle advice. 

The goal is to make the pharmacy a place for everyday healthcare, where people also come to stay healthy. 

The role of pharmacists is also expanding in the management of chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma, and cancer. Through medication reviews and their regular contact with patients, they can monitor adherence, detect side effects, and help coordinate care. A gradual expansion of prescribing authority is also being considered, following the example of certain countries such as the United Kingdom and Canada. 

Pharmacy chains are emerging as key drivers of this transformation, having already introduced innovations such as in-store vaccinations and rapid testing. At the same time, artificial intelligence is establishing itself as a major enabler, with applications ranging from medical image analysis to the detection of health conditions and home monitoring. Pharmacists could thus become key intermediaries in bringing these technologies to the general public. 

Finally, everyone agrees on one point: this transformation cannot happen without a complete overhaul of the business model. Two visions are currently at odds: a pharmacy focused on low-cost dispensing, or a hub pharmacy at the center of preventive, personalized, and community-based healthcare. 

The role of pharmacists in the healthcare system of the future is being shaped today. 

If you are registered for PharmagoraPlus 2026, you can watch a recording of this conference by clicking the following link:HERE.