Development continues - Number of pharmacies continues to decline in Lower Saxony
The number of pharmacies has continued to decline in Lower Saxony. As of the end of June, there were 1,687 pharmacies in the federal state, around 20 fewer than at the end of 2022, as a spokesperson for the Pharmacists' Chamber informed the German Press Agency in Hannover upon request. The number has been decreasing continuously – there were approximately 1,900 pharmacies in the state at the end of 2018 and over 2,100 in 2009.
"Pharmacy closures could become a problem, especially for older people or families with small children who are not mobile," the spokesperson added. She emphasized that comprehensive medication coverage is currently still secure. Pharmacies must be encouraged and economically stabilized to maintain the network, demanded the Chamber.
On Friday, the Chamber will provide an assessment at a press conference in Hannover regarding a reform planned by the Federal Health Ministry. Currently, pharmacies are required to maintain "regular business hours" with possible exemptions, resulting in fixed opening hours. This should be able to be handled more flexibly, according to the draft, to adapt to local personnel resources and medication needs on site.
Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) intends to introduce his law against resistance from the pharmacy profession at the Bundeskabinett on July 17, as he recently announced.
- The decline in pharmacies in Lower Saxony might pose challenges for vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and families with young children, as they may have limited mobility.
- The German Press Agency reported that in response to the decreasing number of pharmacies, the Pharmacists' Chamber in Hanover has called for measures to support and stabilize pharmacies economically.
- The proposed reform by the Federal Health Ministry involves changing the requirement for pharmacies to maintain fixed opening hours, allowing for more flexibility based on local personnel resources and medication needs.
