Éthique et déontologie pharmaceutiques face à la crise sanitaire COVID-19

The code of ethics for pharmacists, which is being revised, includes two essential provisions, professional secrecy and independence, placing the patient at the heart of the system. In the face of the COVID-19 health crisis, the entire drug chain, from industry to dispensary or hospital pharmacy, as well as medical biology were involved. For the prevention of infectious risks, pharmacists have invested themselves in ensuring the protection of other health professionals and the population, safe practices or compliance with barrier gestures, despite a complicated context. At the same time, the profession has launched disciplinary actions against those derogating from the ethical rules. In terms of therapy, pharmacists have had to deal with multiple supply disruptions, forcing them to put in place prioritization strategies, to carry out special hospital preparations in some hospital pharmacies or to integrate foreign or veterinary drugs. Exceptional dispensing circuits have also been put in place in order to limit the stoppages of treatment but also the hospitalization of patients. Regarding diagnostics (RT-PCR) or antigenic tests, all of the dispensing pharmacists and medical biologists have joined forces here again. But with real vigilance and a quality objective. For the vaccination campaign, despite numerous exemptions or even breaches of the regulations, pharmacists sought to maintain the same objective. In conclusion, the pharmacist, regardless of his mode of practice, has demonstrated his ability to adapt in the face of an unprecedented crisis. Its ethics have enabled it to maintain a single goal, to secure professional practices and the pharmaceutical chain, in order to offer the patient the best quality care possible.