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Alarm for pharmacies: Foreign companies are endangering our supply!
Representatives of the liberal professions in Germany are calling for measures against large foreign corporations in order to secure the pharmacy structure.
Alarm for pharmacies: Foreign companies are endangering our supply!
In North Rhine-Westphalia, representatives of the liberal professions are sounding the alarm. They draw attention to the threat of weakening of the medium-sized company structure by large foreign corporations. This danger not only affects pharmacies, but also other freelance professions, which are coming under increasing pressure. ABDA President Thomas Preis is in favor of a ban on mail order sales of prescription medicines, as is already practiced in many EU countries. This is particularly important because pharmacies are indispensable for general services, including night and emergency services. AV-NR reports that the increasing power of mail order pharmacies not only threatens the pharmacy landscape, but also poses a threat to basic medical care.
Another notable problem is the financial investors who are creeping in to take over doctors' practices and pharmacies. Christian Berger from the CDU supports Price's plea and emphasizes the need to strengthen local pharmacies economically. “We have to reform our health system in order to master the challenges of competition,” said Berger. The representatives of the liberal professions agree that reducing bureaucracy and practical digitalization are urgently needed to relieve the burden on existing systems.
Challenges for on-site pharmacies
The challenges for on-site pharmacies are immense. Loud Aposecur Mail order pharmacies exploit systematic weaknesses in face-to-face care, while government austerity measures further deteriorate the pharmacies' livelihoods. "The aggressive advertising of mail-order pharmacies, which, among other things, use slogans such as 'Pharmacy closed? DocMorris!', contributes to a change in social perception and the devaluation of on-site pharmacies," criticize owners of locally based pharmacies.
Due to the unequal cost structure, many pharmacy owners feel strategically disempowered. The mail order pharmacies can take advantage of economies of scale and also benefit from tax advantages through company-owned offices abroad. While brick-and-mortar pharmacies are subject to strict audits, mail-order pharmacies often work in less regulated environments. This uneven competitive landscape continues to call for political support for the local pharmacy structure.
Positive sales development
In addition, pharmacists must take preventive action: strategic risk analyzes and strengthening their own locations are recommended. Cooperations with care facilities and transparent communication of pharmacies' social responsibility are steps that can help mitigate the challenges.
The future of pharmacies in Germany depends on decisive political action to reduce the pressure from mail-order pharmacies and sustainably strengthen local pharmacies.