"Do you want masks?" But we haven't had it for a long time for individuals. This pharmacist from the 10th arrondissement of Paris draws this answer "twenty times a day". "We keep asking us," says one of the colleagues.
At first, surgical masks were sold over the counter. Faced with the risk of a shortage, the public authorities have changed their tune. They are now reserved for city doctors.
Huge deliveries have been going on since the start of the week. Objective: to provide medical professionals with fifteen million pieces. “It was a colossal job to achieve, in connection with the state services. We are proud to have done so, ”explains Carine Wolf-Thal, president of the Order of Pharmacists.
It is through an urgent message sent Monday that the pharmacy managers became aware of the procedure to follow: "The holder will distinguish them from his usual stock and will affix on the box a label stipulating state stock . "
A box of 50 per general practitioner
Philippe Houdart, a general practitioner based in the 18th arrondissement of Paris, was informed by an email from the Regional Directorate of Health (DGS) that he could go and remove masks. "I'm going to contact my neighborhood pharmacy," said the doctor. People are not panicky, but they ask a lot of questions, he testifies. It is difficult to make them understand that, most of the time, they do not risk much. "
Each practitioner has the right to withdraw a box of 50 masks from pharmacies. Individuals can no longer buy them in pharmacies without a prescription. “They should be worn by the patient if he shows symptoms of cough and returns from a risk area. And, in this case, we too must put one on, ”adds Dr. Houdart.
FFP2 masks have a higher level of protection than simple surgical masks. At first, city doctors thought they could benefit, but the state changed its doctrine. "They are only reserved for the hospital," said the Ministry of Health. Liberal medical unions take offense.
All stocks requisitioned
To avoid any risk of shortage, faced with a growing epidemic, the State decided on Wednesday to "requisition all stocks and production of masks", whether FFP2 or surgical masks.
Newsletter - The essentials of the news
Every morning, the news seen by Le ParisienI'm registering
Your email address is collected by Le Parisien to allow you to receive our news and commercial offers. Find out more
This decision would be explained by a need not to be deprived. Indeed, even if production runs at full speed, the State does not have stocks of FFP2 masks, said Tuesday the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, before the National Assembly. An astonishing situation, but which, according to him, dates back to 2011. After the A / H1N1 flu epidemic of 2009-2010, for which the State response had turned out to be oversized, it had been decided that "France did not have to make state stocks of these famous FFP2 masks ”.
