Pharmacy Protest: On-Call Service Instead of Regular Operation on Monday - German pharmacists stage mass closures to protest stagnant fees and rising costs
Pharmacists across Germany are preparing for a large-scale protest on Monday. Many pharmacies in Brandenburg will close their doors to draw attention to long-standing financial struggles. The action aims to highlight how rising costs and stagnant fees have squeezed the sector for over a decade.
The protest comes as the number of pharmacies in Germany continues to fall. In 2013, there were 20,662 nationwide, but by July 2024, that number had dropped to 17,288. Projections suggest further decline to 16,601 by the end of 2025, meaning roughly one in five has shut since 2013.
At the heart of the issue is the per-package dispensing fee, which has stayed at €8.35 since the last adjustment 13 years ago. Meanwhile, personnel and material costs for pharmacies have jumped by about 65 percent since 2013. The coalition agreement proposes raising the fee to €9.50, but no timeline for implementation has been set. Despite the closures, all emergency pharmacies will remain open during Monday's protest. Organisers stress that the action is not meant to disrupt urgent care but to push for fairer compensation. Pharmacists argue that current remuneration fails to reflect soaring living and operational expenses.
The protest will temporarily limit access to non-emergency pharmacy services in Brandenburg. With costs rising and fees unchanged, the sector warns that more closures could follow. The outcome may depend on whether policymakers act on the proposed fee increase.
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