Overview
- The Wettbewerbszentrale has sued dm and partner Skleo Health, seeking rulings from the regional courts in Düsseldorf and Karlsruhe on the screening’s legal permissibility.
- The watchdog cites alleged breaches including unauthorized practice under the Heilpraktikergesetz, improper operation of medical devices, misleading claims of early detection, fee rules for medical reports, and advertising of remote treatment.
- dm is piloting the service in four stores in Düsseldorf, Cologne, Aachen and Bad Münstereifel, offering a vision test and retinal photos without appointments for €14.95 with a report emailed within 24 hours.
- The retailer markets the check as AI‑based with specialist validation, while Niedersachsen health minister Andreas Philippi warns the checks risk marketing over care and urges federal rules keeping diagnostics under physicians.
- Professional groups say such offers do not relieve medical care, and the pilot continues while courts consider the challenges and policymakers weigh possible legislative responses.