ABDA Vice President Engages in Dialogue with Redcare CEO

The Vice President of the German Pharmacy Association (ABDA), Ina Lucas, is set to engage in a significant discussion with Olaf Heinrich, the CEO of the online pharmacy Shop-Apotheke, on May 20. This meeting has been characterized as a 'debate' due to the historically contentious relationship between traditional pharmacies and online dispensing services since the latter's introduction in 2004. Notably, the large Dutch companies, Shop-Apotheke (operated by Redcare) and DocMorris, have been at the forefront of this conflict.

Lucas acknowledges the necessity of facing the reality of the online pharmacy sector. She emphasizes the importance of openly addressing the challenges posed by online dispensing, stating that all pharmacists must recognize and adapt to this evolving landscape. The public discourse will aim to demonstrate that community pharmacies offer superior and more sustainable services compared to their online counterparts.

Having previously initiated the AByou project, Lucas has now transitioned leadership to the next generation, represented by Trang-Luu Frieling and Sven Morgenstern, who are set to launch the Future-Lab at the upcoming one-day congress in Berlin. This event will focus on the economic challenges facing the pharmacy sector, as well as interprofessional collaboration and telepharmacy.

The congress will also feature a greeting from Tino Sorge, a CDU member and potential candidate for the Federal Minister of Health. Additionally, futurist Johannes Kleske is expected to present insights on the evolving roles of pharmacies, while Sylvia Thun will address eHealth and interoperability as crucial factors for patient care amidst a shortage of healthcare professionals. Furthermore, discussions will encompass topics such as telepharmacy, assisted telemedicine, the 'Pharmacy First' concept, and collaborative practices among healthcare providers.