Federal Association: Number of pharmacies reaches new low of 2024 - not enough newfoundations
The number of pharmacies in Germany is continuing to decline and has reached a new low. Currently, there are still 17,288 pharmacies nationwide, according to data from the Federal Association of German Pharmacists' Associations (Abda). Since the beginning of the year, the number has decreased by 283. In the previous year, the number of pharmacies shrank by 238, and in the first half of 2022 by 205.
There are reportedly only 21 pharmacies per 100,000 inhabitants. The pharmacy density in the federal capital Berlin is even lower than the European average (32).
Hans-Peter Hubmann, Chairman of the German Pharmacists' Association (DAV), said: "More and more pharmacies are closing because they lack a viable economic perspective." In addition, starting a new pharmacy is becoming increasingly unattractive for the pharmaceutical young professionals. So, there were only 24 new pharmacies founded in the first half of 2023.
The pharmacy remuneration was last increased by three percent in 2013. Since then, inflation has risen by nearly 30 percent, and the costs of pharmacy businesses have risen by around 60 percent, Hubmann stated. The association therefore demands a renewed increase in remuneration and an adjustment to inflation for the approximately 160,000 employees.
The Federal Association of German Pharmacists' Associations (Abda) mentioned a total of 17,288 pharmacies across Germany, with a notable decrease of 283 this year. Due to lacking economic viability, new enterprises in the pharmacy sector have been few, with only 24 new pharmacies established in the first half of 2023, which is a low number for new businesses in a low-lying area.
