Pharmacy death in Waldhessen: Alarming numbers and worries!

Pharmacy death in Waldhessen: Alarming numbers and worries!

The pharmacy Situation in Hessen is becoming increasingly critical. The latest findings show that the pharmacy density in the Hessian municipalities has dropped greatly. The district of Hersfeld-Rotenburg stands out as the most affected area: There were 18 percent fewer pharmacies in the past year compared to 2018. In the period from 2013 to 2023, the number of pharmacies in this region dropped from 36 to only 24

The phenomenon of pharmacy death has massively pronounced over the past ten years. Pharmacists in the region attribute the reduced figures to a deficient remuneration system, which does not allow many pharmacies to work cost -covering. Ursula Funke, President of the Hessian pharmacy chamber, is concerned: "The development is alarming. The pharmacies on site need an immediate economic strengthening.

A look inside the problems

A concrete example of the challenges in front of which the pharmacy density in the district is facing is the town hall pharmacy in Bebra. Her owner, Björn Mikus, who took over the family company over ten years ago, has now decided to dissolve the pharmacy. "It is no longer possible," explains Mikus. He works 70 to 80 hours a week, but earn less than his own employee. His wife supported him in the past nine months, otherwise he would have had to close the pharmacy much earlier.

The pharmacist's remuneration system is identified as one of the main causes for this development. Pharmacists receive only three percent of the pharmacy purchase price per package of a prescription drug. This means that the paid amounts are no longer portable compared to the constantly increasing living costs and wages. "The system has not been adjusted since 2003," criticized Daniel Hildwein, pharmacist in the district. The fixed costs for electricity and employees have increased, while on the other hand the income stagnates.

reactions and solutions

The top association of health insurance companies (GKV) has proposed more flexible pharmacy structures in a press release in order to counteract critical undersupply, especially in rural areas. Online shipping is considered a supplementary sales form to facilitate care for people restricted mobility.

The situation in Hessen illuminates the challenges with which the pharmacists are faced with the entire country. Other regions such as Marburg-Biedenkopf and the Werra-Meißner district have a higher pharmacy density, but there are also concerns about the trends in health care.

The shortage of pharmacies in Hesse is dramatic and raises questions of how the future care of the population can be secured with medication and health services. At the moment it remains to be seen which specific political measures are being taken to reverse this threatening trend and strengthen the pharmacies in the region. A more comprehensive analysis of current developments the article on www.hna.de .