Pharmacy Protest: On-Call Service Instead of Regular Operation on Monday - Brandenburg pharmacists shut shops in protest over frozen funding

Pharmacists across Brandenburg will stage a protest on Monday, leading to widespread closures. The action aims to highlight long-standing issues with funding and rising costs. Customers will find many local pharmacies shut, though emergency services will stay open.

The protest comes as pharmacy numbers in Germany continue to fall. In 2013, there were 20,662 nationwide, but by July 2024, that figure had dropped to 17,288. Projections suggest further decline to 16,601 by the end of 2025, with nearly one in five already closed.

Pharmacists argue that compensation has failed to keep up with inflation and operational costs. The last adjustment to their fees took place 13 years ago. Since then, personnel and material expenses have jumped by around 65 percent, yet the per-package dispensing fee remains stuck at €8.35. The coalition government has proposed raising this fee to €9.50, but no changes have been implemented yet. Monday's closures will put pressure on policymakers to address the funding gap. Despite the disruption, all emergency pharmacies will operate as usual.

The protest underscores the financial strain on pharmacies across the country. With costs rising and fees frozen, many struggle to stay open. Monday's action will test whether the government moves forward with the planned fee increase.