French cross-border pharmacies have never served as many Belgian customers as today, a report by RTBF shows. Many Belgians are making the journey to take advantage of lower prices, a wider range of products and well-stocked shelves.
Belgian pharmacies located a few kilometres from the French borders are concerned as they are now seeing almost half their customers make the short trip to a French rival, RTBF reports.
While the price remains the main reason for most, French pharmacies are stocking more and more products to attract Belgian customers. These include so-called ‘comfort’ medications such as painkillers, homeopathy products, personal care items, non-prescription drugs and veterinary medicines.
Belgians can also use a prescription from their own GP, provided it is on paper and not in digital format on their identification card. It is even possible to get medicines in France with an automatic renewal over several months, as long as this is in accordance with French legislation.
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As stocks dwindle on Belgian shelves, France has a bigger range of ‘buffer’ stock that pharmacists draw on to cope with consumer demand.
With the exception of some basic products readily available in Belgium – such as powdered milk for infants – French pharmacies are often more cost-effective, with many examples of products costing 50% less. This is primarily due to differences in how the State taxes pharmaceutical products – in France, VAT on medicines is three times less.
In addition, the size of the French market favours domestic manufacturers, meaning pharmacists do not rely on external providers but buy from French laboratories.
Stack it high, sell it cheap?
While Belgium has tried to dissuade the overuse of some products by increasing their prices, especially with regard to so-called comfort drugs, the French have a completely different attitude by allowing as many people as possible to buy basic necessities at a lower cost.
Add to this the continuous promotional actions on price or quantities and it isn't hard to see why many Belgians cross the border. In fact, over 40% of Belgian consumers living near the border become shoppers in nearby France.
This figure could be even higher, according to the RTBF reports, as more and more Belgian tourists stock up in France on their way home, adding to the numbers of regular cross-border customers who fill up at French pharmacies for their family or friends back home.
