Many pharmacies in Berlin closed due to protest
The majority of pharmacies in Berlin are to remain closed on Wednesday in protest. "There is great frustration in the pharmacies about the massive problems in the supply of medicines and the inaction of the federal government," said the press spokesman of the Berlin Pharmacists' Association, Stefan Schmidt, to the German Press Agency. He assumed that an "overwhelming majority" of stores would join the call to protest by the Federal Union of German Pharmacists' Associations (ABDA).
"Supply is guaranteed in all districts via the emergency service pharmacies," Schmidt assured. The relevant pharmacies can be found on the pharmacy notice boards or on the website www.aponet.de, as well as by calling 116 117.
A central ABDA protest rally will take place in front of the Semper Opera House in Dresden at 2 pm. The action is aimed specifically at pharmacies in the eastern German states. According to the ABDA, up to 3,000 pharmacies in Berlin, Brandenburg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia could follow the call to protest.
The participants want to demonstrate against the federal government's healthcare policy and demand more money. According to ABDA, pharmacies are under "immense economic pressure", with supply bottlenecks, increased operating costs and staff shortages causing them increasing problems. According to the association, salaries have not increased since 2004.
As a result, the number of pharmacies throughout Germany has been falling for years. Regarding the situation in Berlin, Anke Rüdinger, Chairwoman of the Berlin Pharmacists' Association, said: "So far this year alone, 19 pharmacies in Berlin have had to close." At the end of October, the association counted 719 pharmacies across Berlin. Almost half of these were in a "difficult economic situation", said Rüdinger. More than 12 percent were in the red.
Due to the collective protests, many pharmacies in Berlin are refraining from providing their usual services on Wednesday, expressing their discontent with the federal government's inaction regarding medicine supply issues and healthcare funding. Despite the demonstrations, essential medicines will still be available through emergency service pharmacies.
Source: www.dpa.com
