walk into a pharmacy with the drugs or make an rdv with a doctor. If the first pharmacy does not work try another and another. There is one on ever other corner. It would be best if they had the original prescription.

Many pharmacists know how much leeway they have to work around the system and dependant on the medication and the cliente will issue medicaments beyond the validity of a prescription.

Whether they would do it for a foreign stranger who perhaps does not speak French is another question, my pharmacienne has always obliged when I have taken foreign customers along to explain and interpret.

The couple concerned should consult a médecin for future ordonnances.

I've had items from UK prescriptions when in need, such as when I’ve had to use both my epipens following a wasp sting; I took along my prescription, paid and walked out with two replacements. I didn’t claim for those as it was a fairly small amount.

When we had to stay on in France before Christmas when my husband was ill I had all my prescription items from the pharmacy and claimed a refund using my EHIC. It wasn’t worth claiming the difference between what I paid out and the refund on our travel insurance due to the excess on the policy.


In the case of the couple Mysty is writing about, I think they need to register with a nearby GP, pay as normal in France and claim that fee and the cost of any medication on their insurance, unless their excess doesn’t make it worthwhile.