Pharmacists' Day: Politicians are committed to local pharmacies
19.10.2012 14:48
The health politicians of the parties represented in the Bundestag largely agree that the introduction of a flat rate for emergency services can and must strengthen pharmacies in rural areas. In the medium and long term, the pharmaceutical competence of pharmacists should be used and rewarded more than before. Politicians see an owner-managed local pharmacy as a basic requirement. This is the conclusion of the health policy debate with members of the Bundestag at the conclusion of the German Pharmacists' Day in Munich today.
“We are focusing on night and emergency services with 120 million euros for comprehensive care,” said Jens Spahn (CDU/CSU). “We want to make it so that it reaches rural pharmacies,” he added. “The structural component, that is, the support of the emergency services, is right,” said Karl Lauterbach (SPD). “Rural pharmacies suffer from the fact that they provide a lot of emergency services,” added Birgitt Bender (Alliance 90/Greens). Gabriele Molitor (FDP) emphasized that the coalition had addressed both medical practice and pharmacy supplies in rural areas. Martina Bunge (Die Linke) said that the market cannot regulate everything and that people's local needs must be taken into account. “We have to fundamentally discuss the way pharmacists are remunerated,” said Lauterbach (SPD): “Consultancy services must play a larger role in the fee.” Spahn (CDU/CSU) also asked to “think together about new forms of remuneration”. Bender (Alliance 90/Greens), Bunge (Die Linke) and Molitor (FDP) also spoke out in favor of placing greater focus on the high level of competence of pharmacists. The consensus among the health politicians from the five parties was a clear commitment to the owner-managed local pharmacy.
With a view to the upcoming negotiations with the health insurance companies about the so-called compulsory discount per pharmaceutical package, Spahn (CDU/CSU) said: “For us, the starting position is the result of 2010.” He was referring to 1.75 euros in contrast to 2. 05 euros that the pharmacists were “expected” to pay for 2011 and 2012.