Pharmacy Count Drops Below 17,000 in Germany

The number of pharmacies in Germany has reportedly fallen below 17,000, marking a significant decline in the sector. According to the President of the German Pharmacists Association (ABDA), recent estimates indicate that the current count is now well below this threshold. In 2024, the pharmacy count decreased by 530, reaching a total of 17,041, the lowest level since 1978. The trend is likely to continue, with additional closures anticipated this year.

Only 48 new pharmacies opened their doors in 2024, contributing to a worrying trend where approximately 20% of pharmacies have vanished over the past decade. The President of ABDA has urged the new government to take immediate action to address the challenges facing the pharmacy sector, which include a shortage of qualified professionals and ongoing financial constraints.

The current pharmacy density in Berlin is about 18 pharmacies per 100,000 residents, significantly lower than the EU average of 32 pharmacies per 100,000 inhabitants. The ABDA President has emphasized the importance of ensuring that citizens have access to pharmacies within their communities, calling for prompt government intervention.

Since the last adjustment of pharmacy remuneration in 2013, the operational costs for pharmacies have surged by 60%, inflation has risen by nearly 30%, and wage costs have skyrocketed by 80%. The ABDA President has advocated for immediate financial support and a systematic adjustment of pharmacy fees to ensure that pharmacies are not adversely affected by economic fluctuations.

In a recent joint statement, ABDA along with other healthcare organizations, including the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV), the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Dentists (KZBV), and the German Hospital Federation (DKG), has called for a reinforcement of the healthcare system. The ABDA President has insisted on urgent financial assistance aimed at stabilizing pharmacies across the country.