Pharmacies in North Rhine -Westphalia: Existence and dramatic closures!

The situation of the pharmacies is tense in North Rhine-Westphalia. The Sat.1-contribution , which was broadcast on January 7, 2025, illuminates the serious challenges with which many pharmacists are confronted. Among the pharmacists concerned is also Beuth from the Farma Plus pharmacy Beuth, who has already given up. The main reason for the closures is the fee that has not been adapted for over ten years.

Inflation has reached 30% in the past decade, while salaries have increased by more than 50%. This has caused 131 pharmacies to close in North Rhine-Westphalia last year. Increasing costs and wages put many pharmacies under pressure. In the article, Beuth's recipe collection box is presented as a "emergency pharmacy". Minister of Health Laumann emphasizes the need for a "good center path" between fair funding for pharmacies and affordable health insurance contributions. A solution is urgently required to prevent further closures.

negative expectations of the pharmacists for 2023

The challenges with which the pharmacists are confronted is also a survey, about which the Deutsche Apotheker Zeitung . A survey among Apokix participants showed that the majority have negative expectations for 2023. From February 2023, an increase in the cash discount will lead to financial losses, which caused 83% of the 153 survey participants to consider adaptation of the pharmacy fee as the most important topic. Other important topics are the reduction in bureaucracy in everyday pharmacy and avoiding delivery bottlenecks.

In retrospect for the year 2022, only 4% of the respondents rate the year as "very good" and 23% as "good". The average rates the year with a grade of 3.2, which is a decline compared to the previous year (2.6). The reason for the poorer evaluation is the reduced pandemic-related special income. 57% of the respondents said negative expectations for 2023, a significant increase compared to 28% in the previous year. The expectations of the future achieve the lowest value in over 20 years with an index of 40.1 points, while the assessment of health politicians and registrations remains low.