attacks on pharmacists up 30% in 2023, according to a barometer from the Council of the Order

Forty attacks on pharmacists were declared each month in 2023 by the profession, a figure “largely increasing, by 30% compared to the year 2022 and 40% more over the last five years”, declared Wednesday April 10 on franceinfo Carine Wolf-Thal, president of the National Council of the Order of Pharmacists, which publishes the annual safety report for 2023.

Pharmacists reported 475 assaults in 2023. “We are reaching record numbers”, notes the president. This year was marked by urban riots, since between June and July 2023, 64 acts of vandalism “have been brought to the attention of the Order”, “like all other businesses”, specifies the president.

Threats, attacks, often for refusing medication

The vast majority of attacks take place in pharmacies. 60% of them involve threats, insults or even physical attacks, and they are mainly motivated by “refusal to dispense medication”. 40% of reports concern theft to obtain money, pharmaceutical or parapharmaceutical products. This concerns “the products that are in front of the counter”, “cash”, Or “under threat, access to narcotic drugs”, details Carine Wolf-Thal on franceinfo.

Only a third of pharmacists who have reported an attack file a complaint, because complaints are sometimes closed without follow-up, resulting in a “discouragement”, notes the president of the Order who also explains the phenomenon by “fear of reprisals from the aggressor”.