Brandenburg to Restructure Pharmacy Emergency Services for Greater Efficiency

The Pharmacy Chamber of Brandenburg, in collaboration with the regional Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, has announced a significant restructuring of the pharmacy emergency service system across the state. This new arrangement will be introduced as a pilot program starting March 1, 2026, and will remain in effect until the end of the year. The primary objective is to ensure long-term, comprehensive access to essential medicines for residents, even as the number of operating pharmacies and available personnel continues to change.

A central feature of the reform is the implementation of a standardized 20-day rotation schedule for all public pharmacies in Brandenburg. Under this new system, each pharmacy will be responsible for emergency service duty once every 20 days. This approach is designed to distribute the workload more equitably among pharmacies and to address the growing strain on pharmacy staff, which has intensified amidst recent closures and staffing challenges.

According to the Pharmacy Chamber, the reform is expected to reduce the annual emergency duty burden for many pharmacies. However, the actual impact may vary depending on the local density of pharmacies. In areas with fewer pharmacies, the new schedule could mean that individuals may need to travel further to access emergency pharmaceutical services. Nevertheless, the Chamber emphasizes that the overall quality and reliability of medicine provision will remain high, with pharmacies continuing to operate around the clock throughout the year, including nights, weekends, and public holidays.

The need for this restructuring has become increasingly urgent in light of recent trends. Since the beginning of 2022, Brandenburg has experienced the closure of 47 pharmacies, leaving 11 municipalities without any local pharmacy services. These changes have placed additional pressure on the remaining pharmacies to maintain uninterrupted access to medications and pharmaceutical care, especially during emergencies.

The new 20-day rotation model is intended to create a fairer distribution of emergency service duties among pharmacy teams and to alleviate excessive workloads. By streamlining the scheduling process and optimizing the use of available human resources, the reform seeks to protect both the capacity of pharmacies to serve their communities and the well-being of pharmacy staff.

Residents of Brandenburg can expect continued access to essential medications at any time of the day or night, despite the possibility of longer travel distances in certain regions. The Pharmacy Chamber assures that patient care and the availability of medicines will be maintained at a consistently high standard, regardless of the adjustments in service structure.

This pilot project will be closely monitored and evaluated throughout its duration, with the aim of assessing its effectiveness in meeting the dual goals of ensuring medicine supply and supporting pharmacy personnel. Depending on the outcomes and feedback from communities and professionals, further adjustments may be made to the system after the initial trial period.