Pharmacy deaths in the Schwalm-Eder district: Is there still hope?

Pharmacy deaths in the Schwalm-Eder district: Is there still hope?

The situation of pharmacies in the Schwalm-Eder district is getting worse. The Hayn pharmacy in Guxhagen in particular is on the verge of bankruptcy. This development highlights the growing problems facing local pharmacies. The number of pharmacies in the region has been falling for years, and two other pharmacies in Jesberg and Schrecksbach have already closed their doors forever. Pharmacist Nils-Steffen Grönig and Dr. Alexander Schröder sound the alarm and warn of a real threat to patient care in the district. Currently only 37 pharmacies are active in the Schwalm-Eder district, which is becoming a serious problem for local healthcare. The decline in pharmacies has a direct impact on patients, who often rely on personal advice and support.

A nationwide comparison shows similar trends: in 2000 there were over 21,000 pharmacies in Germany; in 2024, according to forecasts, there will be fewer than 18,000. This downward spiral not only affects the Schwalm-Eder district, but runs like a common thread through the entire country. The financial conditions have not changed for the better either, as the pharmacies' profit margins are extremely low. The pharmacists' associations are calling for an increase in fees, which is provided for in the coalition agreement, but is considered far too low. In fact, it appears that almost 20 pharmacies in the district are struggling with serious economic difficulties.

Causes of the decline

A key factor in the situation is increasing competition from foreign mail-order pharmacies such as Redcare Pharmacy and Doc Morris, which have rapidly expanded their business in recent years. Redcare increased its sales by over 30 percent to almost 2.4 billion euros in 2024, while Doc Morris exceeded the billion euro mark. These online competitors are now complaining about disadvantages due to political conditions in connection with the introduction of the e-prescription. They are even threatening to sue the Federal Ministry of Health. The digital revolution in the healthcare sector could increasingly impact brick-and-mortar retail, especially with regard to the complicated redemption of e-prescriptions, which continues to be a hurdle for mail-order pharmacies.

But it's not just mail order pharmacies that are causing problems for local pharmacies. Another reason why pharmacies are dying is the difficulty in finding successors. Fewer and fewer pharmacists are willing to take on the business, leading to an increased decline, particularly in rural areas. The German Pharmacists Association is therefore warning of the loss of over 500 pharmacies in the current year alone.

outlook

Nevertheless, there are also positive approaches. A reorganization of pharmacy emergency services in 2024 is showing initial success. Pharmacists could thereby experience greater appreciation and visibility in society again. The e-prescription could also help stationary pharmacies in the short term, but the introduction has so far been bumpy. Technical problems and system failures represent a challenge for everyone involved. However, the potential is there: consumers can redeem e-prescriptions in various ways and thus increase flexibility.

The pharmacies of the future will have to reinvent themselves and adapt in order not to disappear in the digital world. Gabriele Regina Overwiening, President of the Federal Association of German Pharmacists' Associations, calls for urgent measures to strengthen pharmacy care. It remains to be seen how the coming months will pan out.

The question arises for Guxhagen and the surrounding communities: How much time do pharmacies have left to adapt to the new circumstances? Increasing digitalization will definitely leave its mark and it is high time to future-proof the local healthcare sector. The future of pharmacies in the Schwalm-Eder district is closely linked to the willingness to face the challenges of the digital age.

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