Political Parties Present Plans for Pharmacy Support Ahead of Elections

As the upcoming Bundestag election approaches, political parties in Germany have articulated their plans regarding pharmacies, addressing key issues such as compensation, local pharmacy strengthening, and workforce shortages.

In an innovative election campaign process, parties were encouraged to submit responses to five selected organizations that prepared specific questions related to pharmacy operations. This initiative involved major political groups including CDU/CSU, SPD, Greens, FDP, and The Left, while AfD and BSW opted out of this process.

The ABDA (Federal Union of German Associations of Pharmacists) was specifically nominated by the CSU, marking a significant acknowledgment amidst over 6,000 registered lobbying organizations. This acknowledgment is seen as a vital signal for the ABDA in advocacy efforts.

The core inquiries posed revolved around key topics: the state of pharmacy compensation, strategies to bolster local pharmacies, the introduction of new responsibilities for pharmacists, improving collaboration with medical professionals, addressing the skills shortage, and reducing bureaucratic hurdles.

Initial assessments indicate a consensus among parties on the need to address the long-standing issue of pharmacy compensation, which has not seen adjustments for several years. The access to pharmaceutical professionals and the enhancement of digital services were also recurrent themes in party discussions, underscoring the necessity for progress in these areas.

Despite a degree of commonality in acknowledging the need for change, distinct differences in their proposed approaches to compensation emerged. The CDU/CSU advocates for a swift adjustment of the fixed compensation model, while The Left also emphasizes the same. Conversely, the SPD, Greens, and FDP prefer a more generalized approach, discussing the enhancement of pharmacy services and referencing efficiency improvements, which raises concerns about potential redistribution rather than genuine increases in compensation.

Adjusting the fixed compensation or introducing special remuneration would represent the most straightforward solution for immediate financial relief, as these changes can be enacted through regulation. In contrast, lowering the health insurance fund's contribution would necessitate legislative amendments to the Social Code V.

Although the Union's 15-point plan does not explicitly address pharmacies, there may be opportunities to tie relevant legislative actions to their proposals. While the Greens recognize the urgency for immediate financial support, they also advocate for a broader financial reform, suggesting that a more complex legislative approach may be on the horizon.

As the election campaign progresses, it is clear that the future of pharmacy operations is a priority for political parties, and the ABDA must be poised to engage actively with the new government to develop concrete strategies and positions on these critical issues.