Venturing into uncharted commercial territory inevitably entails an element of peril
Pharmacists in Germany have been eagerly awaiting a significant change in the market - the removal of mail-order pharmacies - but their most urgent wish remains unfulfilled.
In a move that could be seen as a temporary solution rather than a comprehensive reform, the Health Minister has offered an additional task to pharmacists, allowing them to issue prescriptions under certain conditions. This new ability is being implemented in times of tight budgets, suggesting that it may not bring about the much-needed reform that pharmacists have been hoping for.
One key aspect missing from this new prescription issuance ability is the examination of sick customers. Unlike in doctor's offices, pharmacists will not be conducting any medical assessments as part of the new prescription process.
The new ability for pharmacists does not address the pharmacists' wish to remove mail-order pharmacies from the market. It also does not alleviate the financial situation of health insurance companies, nor does it fulfill the Health Minister's promise to increase the prescription allowance.
Politics is declaring this new ability for pharmacists as relief for family doctors, but the specific safety measures for the new prescription issuance ability are not detailed in the article. This lack of detail has raised concerns about potential safety issues with the new system.
The new prescription issuance ability for pharmacists could potentially go badly for them due to these safety concerns. It is also unclear whether this new ability will lead to an increase in prescribed pills, or if it could result in increased sales of over-the-counter products instead.
Despite the limitations, the new prescription ability for pharmacists is being considered a form of assistance, but not a real reform. The pharmacist who is allowed to issue prescriptions under certain conditions is not explicitly named in the provided search results. However, the referenced article from the Kassenärztliche Vereinigung Hamburg mentions conditions under which prescriptions can be requested, primarily by doctors or medical practices, with no direct indication that pharmacists may issue prescriptions on their own under specific conditions as of September 2025.
In conclusion, while the new prescription ability for pharmacists does not fulfill the pharmacists' most urgent wish, it does offer a new role for them within the healthcare system. However, the lack of specific safety measures and the potential financial implications raise questions about the long-term impact of this change.
