Pharmacy death in Baden-Württemberg: An emergency call for health care!

The pharmacies in Baden-Württemberg are facing a worrying development. At the end of last year, the number of pharmacies dropped to 2,152, which corresponds to a drastic decline. In 2024, 70 pharmacies closed, while only four new ones were opened. This is part of a nationwide trend that has been burdening the industry for years and above all affects rural regions, where pharmacies act as important contact points for health issues.

The closings not only represent a challenge for the nationwide pharmaceutical supply, but also endanger emergency care in these areas. Chamber President Martin Braun warns of the consequences and calls for an adaptation of the fee for pharmacists, which has been unchanged for 20 years. In addition, excessive bureaucracy in the industry is cited as an obstacle to the preservation of the pharmacies.

increasing number of closures and political demands

In addition to the current figures, research shows that in 2023 88 public pharmacies in Baden-Württemberg were closed. The number of pharmacies dropped to 2,211 at the beginning of 2024. Viewed over a period of ten years, the number of pharmacies has decreased by more than 16 percent. Dr. Martin Braun expresses alarming concerns about the increasing number of closures, which is now twice as high as a decade ago.

The importance of pharmacies on site is underlined by its decisive contribution to health care and pharmaceutical advice. Emergency pharmacies in particular that offer 24-hour readiness are under increasing stress. The State Pharmacists (LAK) appeals to politics to take measures to improve the economic framework for pharmacists. For example, the fee for pharmacists had not been increased in prescription drugs for over ten years, and in February 2023 there was a reduction by about 3 percent.

In addition, the pharmacists' concern about plans by the Federal Ministry of Health expresses which pharmacies provide without a licensed pharmaceutical personnel and redistribution mechanisms for high -priced drugs. These measures could further tighten the problems in the industry. However, positive things can be derived from the current political debate after protests took place on November 22, 2023 that led to a discussion in the Baden-Württemberg state parliament about the Situation of the pharmacies. MPs require clear measures to stop the decline in public pharmacies.