A medicine shortage is behind the looming death of community pharmacies in Germany

More than 120 pharmacies have closed their doors forever in the first three months of the year alone in Germany, as a medicine shortage takes its toll on staff.

Pharmacies have been shutting down at an alarming rate in recent years in Germany, with more than 120 stores closing in the first three months of the year alone, according to data from the Federal Association of German Pharmacists (ABDA).

“We have the lowest number of pharmacies since the early 1980s at the moment,” Christian Splett, ABDA spokesperson, told Euronews.

The number of pharmacies in the country has been declining for some time -- but the decline has really picked up steam over the past year. By the end of 2022, there were just over 18,000 stores open across the country -- 2,800 less than a decade ago, according to newspaper FAZ.

It’s a situation that is leaving many Germans without a crucial link to the country’s health care system, especially in rural areas, as pharmacists are often the first experts people ask for help for their problems before contacting a doctor.

“Pharmacists fulfill a fundamental function in the health care system as well, which you can’t measure by the amount of medicines they sell,” Splett said. “They’re the first point of contact for patients who are unsure about whether they should see a doctor, what medication they can get. And that’s important.”