Pharmacy Teleconsultation Booths: Reliable Solution During Doctor Strikes

As the ongoing doctors' strike disrupts access to traditional healthcare, pharmacies are increasingly turning to teleconsultation booths. These innovative solutions are gaining attention as a potential way to maintain essential medical services for patients during the crisis.

Widespread Strike Hits Healthcare System

Since January 5, 2026, a wave of industrial action has gripped the French healthcare system. Urban doctors and private clinics have largely closed their doors in protest, responding to what unions describe as an “insufficient” allocation for the 2026 Social Security budget. Alongside deep concerns about the erosion of their professional independence, these grievances have fueled a work stoppage set to last at least ten days. The movement’s momentum is expected to peak at a major demonstration in Paris on January 10. Significantly, this disruption comes just as a severe flu outbreak sweeps across the country, intensifying pressure on already strained services.

Telemedicine Booths Step Into the Breach

With waiting rooms empty and access to care severely limited, an alternative has started to attract greater notice: connected telemedicine booths. Developed by companies like Tessan, which now operates around 1,600 installations nationwide, these booths are most often found in pharmacies or community health locations. Here’s how they work: patients insert their health insurance card, answer a brief questionnaire, and then—under the remote guidance of a physician—use connected tools such as thermometers or dermatoscopes. A pharmacist is usually nearby to assist if needed.

Cautious Reception Among Professionals

Although the convenience of telemedicine has proven attractive—especially during epidemics or in regions with few medical professionals—it remains controversial within the sector. Several factors explain this skepticism:

• Tessan highlights rapid access to over 400 registered doctors and notes that more than 1.5 million patients have benefited so far.
• The national health insurer insists teleconsultation must remain an occasional solution—not a replacement for traditional appointments.
• Pierre-Olivier Variot, president of USPO (pharmacy union), criticizes certain commercial abuses and calls for tighter regulation.

Legislation caps teleconsultations at 20% of a doctor’s activity; each session costs €25 (compared with €30 for in-person visits) and typically receives up to 70% reimbursement.

The Debate Over Quality and Oversight

Yet beneath these numbers lies an unresolved debate: how far can technology substitute for direct patient-doctor relationships without sacrificing care quality? Supporters view these booths as a practical way to ease overloaded emergency departments. However, critics warn against turning medicine into an impersonal transaction—and point out that sick leave certificates issued this way are strictly limited to three days. In the current context—with emergency calls soaring by up to 50%—many voices urge caution: telemedicine should be reserved for genuine necessity, not convenience.

Ultimately, while connected booths are not intended to replace traditional care, they do offer a pragmatic lifeline during periods of acute crisis—albeit one that remains under close watch from all corners of the healthcare field.