It’s a first. Never has a distribution of masks on such a large scale been undertaken. So inevitably, that confuses a little. Many pharmacists who provide this precious equipment to professionals in health in town, complain that they were delivered late or insufficiently.
“These masks are a rare commodity”
Faced with a shortage of surgical masks or FFP2 (more protective), the health authorities have fixed the quantities that pharmacies can provide to each health professional per week: eighteen for a general practitioner, a nurse, a medical biologist and a pharmacist; six for a midwife and physiotherapist; new for a professional practicing in a home help and care service.
Of them national distributions have already taken place. Ten million masks were distributed among pharmacies the first time. Less the second time. I hope the next one will happen soon. Because there is nothing left
, laments Philippe Besset, president of the Federation of Pharmaceutical Unions of France (FSPF). These masks are a rare commodity. During the second distribution, they left in a few minutes
, confirms Carine Wolf, President of the National College of Pharmacists.
Two deliveries, two different providers
If the distribution is chaotic
, according to Carine Wolf, it is partly because health professionals can go to the pharmacy of their choice to get their supplies. However, each dispensary receiving in principle the same number of masks, a pharmacy can quickly find itself emptied
so many doctors and nurses go there. It would be nice if these professionals could go to a predetermined location
, notes Philippe Besset.
Another difficulty: the two national deliveries were made by two different providers. The usual network of wholesale distributors for the first; Geodis for the second. The latter, a subsidiary of the SNCF, specializes in logistics but not used to the network of pharmacies. Can this lack of knowledge explain delays in delivery? We saw these delivery people arrive without knowing when they were going to deliver us
, annoys Philippe Besset.
“We have delivered nearly 21,000 pharmacies”
Geodis, commissioned by the Public Health agency France, defends itself from such a mess: We have delivered nearly 21,000 pharmacies across all departments to respond to the health emergency. Deliveries were made according to the priorities defined by Santé Publique France.
Public Health France, which manages this distribution, did not answer our questions.
The third delivery, which should take place next week, will again take place through wholesale distributors.
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