Pharmacy deaths in Germany: 384 fewer since the beginning of the year!

Pharmacy deaths in Germany: 384 fewer since the beginning of the year!

Alarming news from Germany! The pharmacy landscape continues to shrink dramatically! At the end of September 2023, there were only 17,187 pharmacies in the entire country. This frightening number comes from a current survey by the Federal Association of German Pharmacists Associations and shows a decline of 384 pharmacies since the beginning of the year. A worrying trend that has only increased compared to last year!

In the first nine months of the current year, the decline in pharmacies was even more severe than in the previous year. While only 335 pharmacies closed in the same period in 2022, the number has increased significantly this year. The survey includes both main pharmacies and their branches, of which a maximum of three may be operated. The declining number of pharmacies raises questions and makes people sit up and take notice!

A look at the facts

• Aktuelle Zahl: 17.187 Apotheken in Deutschland
• Rückgang seit Jahresbeginn: 384 Apotheken weniger
• Vergleich zum Vorjahr: 335 Apotheken weniger in den ersten neun Monaten 2022
• Erhebung: Bundesvereinigung Deutscher Apothekerverbände

This trend could have far-reaching consequences for healthcare in Germany. The closures affect not only main pharmacies, but also branches, which are an important point of contact for many people in rural and urban areas. The question remains: What are the reasons for this dramatic decline and how will this impact patient care?