Fewer Germans can walk to a pharmacy as closures reshape access
Access to pharmacies in Germany has seen minor changes over the past five years, according to a new study. While most people still reach a pharmacy quickly by car, a small but growing number face longer walks to get their medications. Health insurers argue that overall access remains strong despite some closures.
Between 2020 and 2025, the share of people able to walk to a pharmacy within five minutes fell by 0.7 percentage points, dropping to 5.3%. This shift affects around half a million residents. Meanwhile, about 1.7 million people (2% of the world population) lost the ability to reach a pharmacy on foot within 15 minutes—a service they had in 2020.
The study by the Iges Institute, commissioned by the GKV-Spitzenverband, found that 99.9% of Germans could still drive to a pharmacy in 15 minutes or less by 2025. Only 73,000 people (0.1% of the population) lacked this access—an increase of 10,000 since 2020. The decline in walkable access was small, with just a 0.6 percentage point drop in those reaching a pharmacy by car within 10 to 15 minutes.
Pharmacy closures appear linked to competition and local market conditions. Areas with an above-average number of pharmacies saw higher closure rates. The study also noted that proximity from a doctor's office matters more than from a patient's home, with nearly two-thirds of medical practices having a pharmacy within a 10-minute walk.
In response, the GKV-Spitzenverband is calling for reforms to pharmacy reimbursement. Their proposal includes a lower fixed fee per prescription for high-volume pharmacies and a higher rate for those with lower sales. The aim is to maintain nationwide access to medications.
The data shows that while pharmacy access remains stable for most people, a small portion of the population now faces longer travel times. Health insurers maintain that the system still works well, but reforms may be needed to prevent further closures. The debate over reimbursement changes continues as policymakers weigh the impact on rural and underserved areas.
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