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Pharmacies Across Germany Close for One-Day Protest Over Pay

Pharmacists are seeking a long-delayed rise in the per‑pack fee to sustain local access to medicines.

Overview

  • Many pharmacies shut on 23 March with rallies in Berlin, Munich, Düsseldorf and Hannover, while on‑call pharmacies keep urgent supplies available.
  • The sector is demanding an increase in the fixed dispensing fee from €8.35 to €9.50 per prescription pack after roughly 13 years without a meaningful rise.
  • Health Minister Nina Warken has signaled a spring regulation to raise the fee within a broader pharmacy reform now under discussion.
  • The GKV insurers argue for a differentiated remuneration model by pharmacy size and location instead of a uniform hike, with funding details still unsettled.
  • Pharmacy numbers continue to decline to 16,601 nationwide at end‑2025, and ABDA estimates the proposed increase would cost insurers about €930 million annually based on 2024 volumes.