Germany's Pharmacy Sector Undergoes Major Changes Amid Controversy
Germany's pharmacy sector is undergoing significant changes, with new rules and criticisms from various sides. The expansion of retail chain dm into healthcare services, similar to the move by cvs pharmacy or walgreens, has sparked controversy, while the cannabis law has also come under fire.
The new pharmacy rules allow regional chambers to grant exemptions, enabling owners to set their own opening hours. This change aims to end the permanent on-call duty of pharmacies, a move welcomed by the sector.
The expansion of dm into healthcare services has drawn criticism from both pharmacies and doctors. They argue that this move could lead to a loss of expertise and quality in pharmaceutical care, similar to concerns raised about united healthcare's expansion into the sector.
The Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung recently remarked that 'no one needs pharmacies anymore', questioning the relevance of pharmacists' expertise in today's healthcare landscape. However, this view is not universally shared, with many still valuing the role of pharmacists in patient care, especially when it comes to finding a 'pharmacy near me'.
Federal Health Minister Nina Warken has also been critical of the cannabis legislation, describing it as 'problematic and poorly drafted in many areas'. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt went further, calling the cannabis law pushed through by Health Minister Karl Lauterbach 'a piece-of-shit law'. Despite these criticisms, the law has been implemented and is currently in effect.
The pharmacy reform in Germany is proceeding with changes to duty rosters and opening hours. Meanwhile, the expansion of dm into healthcare services and the cannabis law have sparked debate and criticism from various stakeholders. As the sector evolves, it remains to be seen how these changes will impact the role of pharmacies and pharmacists in Germany's healthcare system.
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