Protest: Pharmacies and doctors' surgeries remain closed
Because doctors and pharmacists are protesting together today against the federal government's healthcare policy, many surgeries and pharmacies across the country will remain closed. Associations of pharmacists, GPs and dentists have called for a joint day of protest. Together, they want to draw attention to shortcomings in outpatient healthcare.
The North Rhine and Westphalia-Lippe GP associations have called on their members to close their surgeries by ten o'clock at the latest. However, emergency care is guaranteed, they said. Patients are asked to fill their prescriptions for medication the day before so that they do not have to resort to the emergency service pharmacy.
Pharmacists and doctors are complaining about supply bottlenecks for medicines, overcrowded waiting rooms, excessive democracy and a lack of measures to combat the shortage of specialists. They are demanding higher fees and remuneration in line with the rising costs of healthcare. The pharmacists' association is expecting thousands of participants from all over Germany as well as Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse and Saarland to attend a central rally (12 noon) in Dortmund. Doctors also want to demonstrate there.
Due to the joint demonstrations by doctors and pharmacists, numerous surgeries and pharmacies will postpone appointments, advocating for improvements in healthcare funding and specialist shortages. Despite the closures, emergency medical services will continue to operate, advising patients to collect their prescription medications beforehand to avoid using the emergency service pharmacy.
Source: www.dpa.com
