Are you sure about that fact? Pharmacists went on strike in Netherlands this year. Another reply mentioned Poland. It seems there's no EU rule, or maybe it's more that some still need to be open.

The majority of what a pharmacy provides is repeat customers anyway. Despite regular customers planning badly pretty much all the time, the majority gets their medicine for a minimum of various weeks.

The participation of the strike in Netherlands wasn't high. It was pretty last minute idea by one frustrated worker. The reason was the increase in the aggression towards the people working in a pharmacy.

Source: I know someone working in a pharmacy.

> The reason was the increase in the aggression towards the people working in a pharmacy.

What kind of aggression?

Aggression towards pharmacists is usually from addicts who want drugs.

People that want drugs for which they do not have a prescription.

Well he did say "most of the world" which is not "everywhere". I did not read it as if every single country has this requirement. :)

Poland is not part of it then. What does have to happen is that emergency or base services are sustained. That is the one 24h pharmacy. All others can just close.

Similar with doctors in hospitals, as long as emergency service works fine strike is allowed.