Are pharmacies in France closed on Sundays? What if I need medicine urgently?
Stocking up on medicines before the weekend is a good idea
Pharmacies in larger areas may rotate which store is open on a Sunday
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Reader Question: Last week my husband was feeling very unwell but our village pharmacy was closed. What are you meant to do if you need medicine urgently?
Although far fewer pharmacies are open on Sundays, not all are closed.
In larger cities or urban areas, at least one pharmacy is usually designated to be open late and/or on Sundays, or pharmacies will take it in turn to open out-of-hours.
Alternatively, pharmacies will have information about how to find a nearby pharmacie de garde (pharmacy open out of hours) on their walls/windows.
If you need one immediately or in the next hours you can find the nearest one online here by entering your postcode, or you can call the 3237 number (calls cost €0.35 per minute). The site (which requires you to accept cookies), allows a search depending on the time of day when you want to visit.
If you are in the Île-de-France region, you can use the ‘Mon pharmacien’ website or smartphone app to find a pharmacy near you open on Sunday.
Read more: 112, 15, 17: Do you know the emergency numbers to use in France?
Other places to look for help
In rural areas, out-of-hours pharmacies may only be open a few extra hours, compared to in urban areas where they may be open 24/7.
If none is available, you can call France’s ‘15’ emergency health number if your problem is severe.
Otherwise, try to book an appointment with an out-of-hours doctor, or call out SOS Médecins.
Going straight a hospital emergency department is not recommended, as we discussed in another recent reader question article below.
Read more: Must I telephone first before going to hospital emergency centre in France?
Stocking up on essential medicines such as paracetamol and ibuprofen is advised due to it sometimes being difficult to find an open pharmacist on a Sunday.
If you are running low on a type of medicine you need, try to visit the pharmacy on a Saturday. Most pharmacies are open then, though some do close in the afternoon.
