Healthcare - Lauterbach plan: medicines without pharmacists on site
Patients in Germany should be able to obtain their medications from a pharmacy in the vicinity in the future - however, not always from fully qualified pharmacists. This is the goal of a planned reform by Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD). Lauterbach intends to introduce his law against resistance from the pharmacy sector at the Bundeskabinett on July 17, as he announced during a visit to an apothecary in Brandenburg, Teltow.
Apothecary voices discontent to Scholz
The Teltow apothecary Mike Beyer had previously expressed his discontent over the planned pharmacy reform to Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), who had visited the site in March. Scholz had then asked Lauterbach to do persuasive work on site, as stated from the Health Ministry. After a roughly three-quarter hour conversation between the minister and the apothecary, it became clear: it had only partially worked out. Lauterbach emphasized that despite earlier conversations with pharmacists, he found it interesting. However, he remained firm - and Beyer, as well as the present president of the Pharmacists Association ABDA, Gabriele Regina Overwiening, shook their heads at Lauterbach's statements.
What the traffic light plans
A key point of the plans: pharmacies should still be allowed to open if only a pharmacist is available for pharmaceutical consultation in another pharmacy. "In this case, experienced pharmaceutical-technical assistants can take over the medication supply on site," according to the Health Ministry. "Pharmaceutical consultation for customers can also take place via telepharmacy." However, complex manufacturing processes and the dispensing of anesthetics should still require the presence of the pharmacist. At least eight hours per week, the pharmacy management must be personally present in the pharmacy.
Are alternative pharmacies dying out?
Lauterbach presented the reform as necessary. "We are facing a major pharmacy crisis in the countryside," Lauterbach said. "We are trying to maintain this supply through community pharmacies and telepharmacy." In the future, pharmacies would still have to be run by pharmacists. "But it doesn't have to be an apothecary present at the counter at every hour of the day." Lauterbach: "Either there is no pharmacy at all in the rural areas or there is a branch pharmacy where the apothecary is only present on one or two days." Eventually, he had to do something for the people - "and not just for the fees of those who are already pharmacists."
The minister expressed confidence that he would be able to push through the reform in the notoriously fractious Ampel Coalition. "We will be in the cabinet on July 17, that is, on the day when the budget is also decided in the cabinet." The preparatory negotiations within the government were running smoothly.
Apothecaries warn
Apothecary Beyer warned of benefit cuts for insured persons and too little money for pharmacists. "All 17,500 pharmacies are affected by this reform." Incentives should be created to reduce the pharmacy's performance offer.
ABDA-President Overwiening emphasized: "We also need pharmacists in their pharmacies. That is the core, that is the guiding principle of our entire profession." The association chairwoman stressed: "And leaving this guiding principle is what we don't want here." Personal presence of the pharmacist leads to better care for people. Studies have shown that they then take their medication with greater compliance. Moreover, pharmacists and pharmacists are also needed for the care of terminally ill patients.
What's still planned
Further parts of the planned law are intended to bring more money to pharmacists. The supplement for not-for-profit services is to be increased from 21 to 28 cents per packaging of medicinal products - cost: around 50 million Euros annually. The penalty for each provided not-for-profit service is to increase by around 30 percent to 550 Euros.
It was also reported that pharmaceutical companies will be able to negotiate secret prices for patented medicines with statutory health insurance companies under certain conditions. Corresponding amendment applications to the underlying Medical Research Act are said to have been decided by the factions, according to the news portal "Politico". It is stipulated that the confidentiality is mandatory and leads to a discount of nine percent, as confirmed in traffic light coalitions.
- Under Karl Lauterbach's proposed reform, patients in Germany might acquire necessary medications from nearby pharmacies, even if not all pharmacists are present.
- SPD politician Lauterbach plans to introduce this pharmacy reform in the Bundeskabinett on July 17, despite opposition from the pharmacy sector.
- During a visit to an apothecary in Brandenburg, Teltow, Lauterbach discussed the reform with Mike Beyer and Gabriele Regina Overwiening from ABDA, but their perspectives differed.
- The reform includes allowing pharmacies to operate if a pharmacist is available for consultation elsewhere, with certified assistants handling medication supply on-site.
- Lauterbach emphasized the need for this reform due to a looming pharmacy crisis in rural areas, aiming to maintain supply through community pharmacies and telepharmacy.
- Overwiening, president of ABDA, insists on maintaining the role of pharmacists in their pharmacies, arguing that their personal presence improves patient care and medication compliance.
- The reform incorporates provisions to increase funding for not-for-profit services in pharmacies by around 50 million Euros annually.
- Pharmaceutical companies may negotiate confidential prices for patented medicines with statutory health insurance providers under specific conditions, as decided by the traffic light coalitions.
