Bavaria's New Emergency Service System Launches Successfully

Thu 5th Jun, 2025

The new emergency service system in Bavaria commenced on January 1, 2025, introducing a digital approach to distributing on-call services using geolocation data. This initiative was agreed upon by the delegates of the Bavarian State Chamber of Pharmacists (BLAK) during their assembly in November 2023.

The emergency services are now available 24 hours a day, starting at 8:30 AM. According to Alexander Freiherr von Waldenfels, a board member, feedback from pharmacies indicates an increased utilization of these emergency services.

Changes have already been implemented based on input from pharmacy professionals. The search for pharmacies on call has been updated to consider road distances rather than straight-line distances. Additionally, the system now incorporates automatic notifications for emergency services. A new survey module has also been introduced to facilitate the transition of emergency service responsibilities during pharmacy closures.

Future Adjustments for 2026

As the planning for the emergency service schedule for 2026 progresses, several adjustments are anticipated while maintaining a distance guideline of 20 to 25 kilometers between on-call pharmacies. The minimum rest period between shifts, which is currently set at one day, is expected to be extended. Moreover, measures will be taken to ensure that pharmacies are not assigned to the same holiday duty in consecutive years, specifically accounting for December 24 and 31. The distribution of weekend duties will also be refined to promote fairness across all weekdays.

For pharmacies located near state borders, a cross-border emergency service arrangement offers numerous advantages. The collaboration with Baden-Württemberg will be continued into 2026. While integration with Hesse is not yet feasible, plans are in place for automatic referrals to available pharmacies in Hesse. Additionally, efforts are underway to enhance coordination with the medical emergency service in Bavaria.

The timeline for the development of the emergency service schedule aims for completion by mid-September 2025. Following coordination with the plan from the Baden-Württemberg Chamber of Physicians, the preliminary exchange phase is expected to conclude by the end of October 2025, with the finalized schedule distributed to pharmacy professionals in Bavaria in November.


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