Fewer pharmacies but more pharmacists

Fewer pharmacies - More employees

07/05/2014

In Germany there are fewer and fewer, but larger pharmacies. However, the number of employees in the industry is increasing. With an image campaign, pharmacists now want to highlight the advantages of local pharmacies.

More and more employees
In Germany, patients are dealing with fewer and smaller pharmacies. According to the new data of the ABDA - Federal Association of German Pharmacists Associations, the number of pharmacies fell by 259 to 20,662 within a single year in 2013, according to the news agency dpa. At the same time, however, the number of employees in the industry grew by almost 2,000 to around 150,700. In 2004, there were approximately 136,800 employees in 21,392 pharmacies.

Trend towards larger pharmacies
„The figures show that we have a trend towards larger pharmacies that have to supply more and more people“, said the chairman of the German Pharmacists Association (DAV), Fritz Becker. In the future, it would be important to provide the patients nationwide and close to their homes. „In an aging society, there are more and more people who need to take multiple medications in parallel.“ It needs good advice. From today's Wednesday, the situation of the industry will be highlighted at the two-day DAV Economic Forum.

Image campaign started
To bolster up their image, around 5,000 pharmacies launched a nationwide campaign just a few days ago. Under the motto „Closer to the patient“ With the help of nationwide campaigns, posters at train stations and a specially created website, it should be emphasized what advantages a local pharmacy offers to patients. „Pharmacies supply their patients with medicines not only nationwide and around the clock. They also offer individual advice on all pharmaceutical topics and work hand in hand with doctors for therapeutic success“, said ABDA President Friedemann Schmidt in a statement.

Authentic insight into the daily work
The campaign is initially scheduled for three years. Since she should give an authentic insight into the daily work, the subjects showed no models, but real pharmacists. The campaign materials should also underline the regional or local identity of the individual pharmacies. Therefore, the posters differ a little depending on the state and region. It is planned to advertise on more than 1,800 spaces at long-distance and regional train stations as well as in the city of Berlin. (Sb)

Picture: siepmannH, Pixelio.de