On Wednesday, 14 June 2023, many pharmacies across Germany will remain closed. Pharmacists are protesting because they feel that the federal government’s policies are massively hindering the proper supply of medicines to citizens. The supply system is full of bureaucracy and penalties, drug shortages cost more time and money and costs are also rising. Staffing and recruitment problems and a lack of political will to support pharmacies and their employees are causing a lot of resentment and frustration.
As a manufacturer of high-quality locker systems made in Germany, we share the concerns and worries of pharmacies. The German market remains difficult and too bureaucratic for us too: we manufacture innovative locker systems for the contactless and time-independent handover of items. These are suitable for reducing pharmacies’ personnel and financial problems. However, pharmacies must provide “adequate information and advice on medicinal products and pharmacy-only medical devices” in accordance with Section 20 (1) ApBetrO. The pharmacist is obliged to always enquire about the need for advice, even if the customer does not want any advice. This regulation thus indirectly hinders the resource-saving use of locker solutions in pharmacies, e.g. the contactless exchange of prescriptions for medication via a handover or collection station.
The situation is different with online mail-order pharmacies. Although these are also subject to the obligation to provide counselling, the customer is free to decide. In principle, there is therefore no obligation to provide counselling on one’s own initiative in e-commerce. As a manufacturer, we are therefore consciously asking ourselves whether similar regulations can reduce bureaucracy in the operation of on-site pharmacies without restricting customers’ need for information and advice. Other European countries have created far less bureaucratic legislation in this area – with improved local supply through time-independent access to medicines, with an improved range of services offered by pharmacies and with a realistic opportunity for pharmacies to operate more flexibly in terms of staffing and cost. Our products in the Servicebox family, such as our Servicebox Basic with smaller collection compartments or our larger Servicebox, provide support in all areas.
Our demand is therefore: it is time to cut red tape – it is time to digitalise – and: it is time for sensible and future-oriented policies and legislation!
Sources and further information:
