Pharmacies close again in protest
Too little pay, too much bureaucracy: pharmacies in Hesse are closing today for the third time this year in protest against the federal government's healthcare policy. However, their emergency care for patients should function in the same way as on a Sunday or public holiday throughout Hesse.
According to the Hessian Pharmacists' Association (HAV), the closures are once again intended to demonstrate across the board "for a sustainable safeguarding of the supply of medicines close to home".
Pharmacies are complaining about too much bureaucracy, supply bottlenecks and underfunding. Despite inflation, rising rents and energy prices as well as tariff increases, remuneration has not increased significantly over the past 20 years. As a result, more and more pharmacies are closing for good, especially in rural areas.
According to HAV figures, the number of pharmacies in Hesse fell from 1502 on December 31, 2016 to just 1344 at the end of September 2023.
The pharmacists' demonstrations aim to highlight the need for a sustainable solution to medicine supply issues, resulting from underfunding, bureaucracy, and supply bottlenecks. These protests also aim to emphasize the impact of these factors on the health of communities, especially in rural areas, where numerous pharmacies have had to close due to financial strains.
Source: www.dpa.com
