SHERIDAN, WYOMING -- July 10, 2026 -- The ABDA Federal Association of German Pharmacist Associations has issued a statement addressing two concurrent legislative actions affecting pharmacy operations and pharmaceutical supply in Germany. The organization supports regulatory changes expanding pharmacy services while opposing measures that would increase financial burdens on pharmacies. The dual legislative actions, one in the Bundesrat and another in the Bundestag, present contrasting implications for the country's pharmaceutical distribution network and the 160,000 pharmacy employees nationwide.
Bundesrat Approves Pharmacy Operating Regulation Changes
The Bundesrat is voting on amendments to the Pharmacy Operating Regulation and related ordinances. These changes complete a pharmacy reform package that expands service capabilities for pharmacies across Germany. The regulatory package follows recent legislation that broadened pharmacy services to include vaccinations and additional patient services. Thomas Preis, President of ABDA, characterized the regulatory amendments as significant for pharmaceutical and healthcare delivery to citizens.
The reform package addresses compensation structures that remained static for thirteen years. Pharmacies will gain the ability to negotiate remuneration directly with health insurance companies. This negotiation authority aims to prevent future compensation stagnation and allow pharmacies to adjust for cost increases. Without this mechanism, pharmacy operations would face continued financial pressure disconnected from actual operating expenses.
Discount Ban Elimination Changes Supplier Payment Terms
The regulatory changes eliminate the discount prohibition that previously restricted supplier payment terms. Suppliers can now offer standard commercial discounts when pharmacies pay invoices within specified timeframes. This modification aligns pharmacy procurement practices with conventional business payment structures. The change provides pharmacies with working capital management tools common in other commercial sectors.
Preis acknowledged this development as an important operational adjustment. The discount mechanism allows pharmacies to optimize cash flow management while maintaining supplier relationships. Industry observers note that payment term flexibility can improve liquidity for smaller pharmacy operations facing tight margins.
Structural Reforms Raise Service Continuity Concerns
The regulatory package includes provisions that modify pharmacy operational requirements. Branch pharmacies will no longer require dedicated laboratory facilities. Operating hour requirements have been relaxed, permitting reduced service windows. ABDA has expressed concern that these structural changes could diminish service availability in certain regions.
Preis warned that laboratory requirement elimination and reduced operating hours may compromise comprehensive pharmaceutical access. Citizens in all German regions depend on proximate and complete pharmaceutical services. The association argues that structural flexibility must not erode the baseline service standards that patients expect from their local pharmacies. Service degradation could particularly affect rural and underserved areas where pharmacy density is already lower.
Bundestag Considers Pharmacy Surcharge Increase
The Bundestag is reviewing the GKV Contribution Rate Stabilization Act, which includes provisions affecting pharmacy economics. The legislation proposes an indefinite increase to the pharmacy surcharge, a measure ABDA opposes. The surcharge increase would transfer additional costs to pharmacies to stabilize health insurance contribution rates. ABDA contends this approach weakens pharmacy financial viability and accelerates closures.
Pharmacies have already generated substantial savings for health insurance funds through the extended compensation freeze. The decade-long period without remuneration increases contributed to widespread pharmacy closures. Preis argued that further financial extraction from pharmacies will reduce the total number of operating locations. Fewer pharmacies translate directly to reduced access for patients.
Pharmacy Network Contraction Threatens Access
The pharmacy closure trend has accelerated in recent years due to economic pressures. ABDA links the closure wave directly to the prolonged compensation stagnation. The association employs 160,000 people across Germany's pharmacy network. Additional financial burdens risk further employment losses and service gaps.
The organization emphasizes that pharmacy density directly affects patient outcomes and medication adherence. When pharmacies close, patients face longer travel distances and reduced consultation availability. This access reduction disproportionately affects elderly patients and those with mobility limitations. The association argues that policymakers must balance cost containment objectives against maintaining adequate pharmaceutical infrastructure.
Competing Policy Objectives Create Implementation Uncertainty
The simultaneous advancement of supportive and restrictive measures creates operational uncertainty for pharmacy operators. Service expansion mandates require investment in staff training and infrastructure. Financial constraints from increased surcharges limit capital available for these investments. Pharmacy operators must navigate this contradictory policy environment while maintaining service continuity.
ABDA calls for policy coherence that supports both cost efficiency and service quality. The association advocates for sustainable compensation mechanisms that reflect actual operating costs. Direct negotiation with health insurance companies offers one path toward this balance. Without structural solutions, the pharmacy sector faces continued volatility that undermines long-term planning and investment.
For additional information about ABDA positions on pharmaceutical policy and pharmacy operations, visit https://www.abda.de