Moving pharmacy celebrates 15 years: a festival for health and exercise!

Moving pharmacy celebrates 15 years: a festival for health and exercise!

Rathausplatz, 1010 Wien, Österreich - On May 27, 2025, the “Moving Pharmacy” project of the Vienna Health Promotion-WIG celebrated its 15th anniversary. On this occasion, over 250 participants took part in a Nordic walking event that started at Rathausplatz in Vienna. The route led the walkers past important sights such as the Burgtheater, the parliament and the Hofburg, through the green parks of the city center.

Peter Hacker, City Councilor for Social Affairs, Health and Sport, underlined the importance, exercise and health promotion into everyday life. Dennis Beck, Managing Director of the Vienna Health Promotion - WIG, recalled the start of the project in 2010 and the successes that it has achieved since then. In the meantime, over 1,500 people and 49 Viennese pharmacies in 20 municipal districts are actively involved.

regular Nordic walking groups

The project offers more than 50 Nordic walking groups that meet regularly - and that in almost any weather. Every week, the WIG and the participating pharmacies support interested parties by offering an hour together Nordic Walking under the guidance of experienced trainers. This activity is free of charge and open to newcomers, which facilitates access to health -promoting measures.

In order to find out about the various locations and offers of the Nordic Walking groups, interested parties are available on the Vienna Health Promotion website. Everyone can participate, whether beginners or experienced athletes. The moving pharmacy is financed by the State Health Promotion Fund (LGFF).

Support for movement promotion in Germany

The topic of movement promotion is also actively promoted in Germany. The round table movement and health, initiated by the parliamentary State Secretary Sabine Dittmar, commented on from October 2022 to August 2023. Various departments, conferences and scientific institutions were closely involved. The successfully published consensus paper describes the process and contains recommendations to strengthen movement promotion for all ages.

These activities are part of a dialogue that aims to improve health through movement. The results of the round table will be presented on March 12, 2024 at the second movement summit. The Federal Ministry of Health plans to further accompany the implementation of the agreed measures.

For more information about the moving pharmacy, visit the website wig.or.at/zwegte-apotheke . You can find details on the initiatives for promoting movement in Germany on the website of the Federal Ministry of Health . The anniversary of the moving pharmacy impressively shows how important the integration of movement into daily life is for the health of the population.