Pharmacists demonstrate against reform plans

Health - Pharmacists demonstrate against reform plans

Protesting against the planned pharmacy reform, hundreds of pharmacists and pharmacists in Frankfurt marched on the Opernplatz. With sirens, drums, and posters, they loudly demonstrated against the plans of Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD). "We're saving them completely right now," said a pharmacist from Darmstadt on Thursday. Hessian pharmacies were to be closed for two days, until Friday. The medication supply is only guaranteed through emergency services, as the pharmacists' association announced.

Politicians from the CDU, the Greens, and the FDP also wanted to participate in the rally. The main criticism focuses on the planned creation of "Pseudo-pharmacies" without the presence of pharmacists and pharmacists. Colleagues had been at the forefront during the pandemic and had taken care of customers, "and the thanks for that is that we're supposed to be abolished," said a pharmacist from Mörfelden-Walldorf at the edge of the rally. According to police estimates, 700 participants were counted. It all went peacefully.

To maintain the supply network for patients, especially in rural areas, Lauterbach wants to relax the requirements for branches, opening hours, and the presence of pharmacists and pharmacists. This is based on a draft referral from his ministry for a law. The "Telepharmacy" is to be expanded through video connections.

A pharmacy can thus open even if the pharmacist or pharmacist is not physically present but in another pharmacy in the network and can provide consultations digitally when needed. The pharmacy management must, however, be personally present for at least eight hours a week. In this context, experienced pharmaceutical technical assistants and assistants can also be present on site.

"The draft referral presented by the BMG is a general attack on our entire profession, our pharmaceutical competence, and the neighborhood pharmacy care provided by pharmacies on site," said Holger Seyfarth, Chairman of the Hessian Pharmacists' Association (HAV). Minister Lauterbach is not focusing on drug safety or neighborhood care for people.

List of emergency pharmacies

1. Despite their opposition, politicians from the FDP in Frankfurt am Main also expressed their intention to join the demonstrations against the pharmacy reform plan.
2. The planned pharmacy reform in Hesse, spearheaded by Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach from Frankfurt am Main, includes relaxing requirements for branches and opening hours in rural areas.
3. Amidst protests, a pharmacist from Frankfurt expressed concern about the potential creation of 'Pseudo-pharmacies' without the presence of pharmacists and pharmacists.
4. The pharmacies in Darmstadt, like those across Hesse, joined the protests, arguing that the planned reform could lead to the closure of many pharmacies for two days.
5. In response to the planned reform, the CDU and SPD in Frankfurt am Main faced criticism from pharmacists, who feel undervalued after their efforts during the pandemic.
6. In an effort to maintain supply networks and ensure continued care, Lauterbach's draft referral includes expanding the use of 'Telepharmacy' through video connections, allowing pharmacies in Frankfurt and beyond to operate digitally.

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