Deux-Sevres · Nouvelle-Aquitaine
2 pharmacies in Melle
Opening hours, addresses and phone numbers for pharmacies in Melle · 5,752 inhabitants
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Pharmacies
Melle has 2 pharmacies in Deux-Sevres, Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Whether you live here or are just passing through, every pharmacy listed below dispenses prescription and over-the-counter medicine — in France, look for the illuminated green cross. Browse the list to find addresses, phone numbers and locations on the map.
None of the 2 pharmacies in Melle stays open around the clock: at night, on Sundays and public holidays, cover rotates between local pharmacies across Deux-Sevres — see the ARS Nouvelle-Aquitaine duty rota. With a population of 5,752, that is roughly one pharmacy per 2,876 residents. Pharmacies are also available nearby in Celles sur Belle, Perigne, Brioux sur Boutonne.
Night and Sunday duty pharmacy in Melle
Outside normal opening hours, France runs a rotating duty system called the "pharmacie de garde". In Deux-Sevres the 3237 hotline does not cover it: the duty rota for Melle is published every month by ARS Nouvelle-Aquitaine, and every pharmacy posts it on its window. A duty fee applies (rates since January 2025): €6 on Sundays and public holidays, €10 in the evening (8 PM–midnight) and early morning (6–8 AM), €20 in the deep night (midnight–6 AM). French residents with a prescription and Carte Vitale get these surcharges reimbursed.
Visiting Melle? How French pharmacies work
Unlike in the UK or US, over-the-counter medicine in France is sold only in pharmacies — supermarkets don't stock painkillers or cold remedies. Pharmacists are trained to give first-line advice for minor ailments and can often save you a doctor's visit. Prescriptions issued in the EU/EEA are generally accepted if the medicine is authorised in France. With a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC/GHIC) you still pay at the counter, then claim reimbursement from your home insurer — keep the receipt.
Frequently asked questions
How many pharmacies are there in Melle?
PharmacyRadar lists 2 pharmacies in Melle, with address, phone number and map location.
How do I find a pharmacy open tonight or on Sunday in Melle?
In Deux-Sevres the 3237 hotline does not cover duty pharmacies: check the monthly duty rota published by ARS Nouvelle-Aquitaine, or the notice posted on the window of any pharmacy in Melle. At night in larger towns you may be asked to go through the police station first.
Can I use a foreign prescription at a pharmacy in Melle?
Pharmacies in Melle can usually dispense prescriptions issued in the EU/EEA, provided the medicine is authorised in France. For prescriptions from outside the EU, dispensing is at the pharmacist's discretion — bring photo ID and, if possible, a prescription using the international (INN) drug name.
Do pharmacies in Melle accept the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)?
The EHIC/GHIC is not a payment card: you pay for the medicine at the counter, keep the receipt and claim reimbursement from your home insurer afterwards. Pharmacies in Melle accept bank cards and cash.
Can I buy medication without a prescription in Melle?
Yes — pharmacies in Melle sell over-the-counter medication such as paracetamol, ibuprofen, antihistamines and antiseptics. Note that in France these are only available in pharmacies, not supermarkets.
How much does a duty pharmacy visit cost in Melle?
A duty fee is added to the medication price (rates since January 2025): €6 on Sundays and holidays, €10 in the evening (8 PM–midnight) and early morning (6–8 AM), €20 in the deep night (midnight–6 AM). French residents get these fees reimbursed with a prescription and Carte Vitale; visitors should keep the receipt for their travel or home insurer.