German Bundestag Passes Pharmacy Reform Expanding Health Services

The German Bundestag has passed a significant new law reforming the pharmacy sector, allowing pharmacies to offer expanded health services including vaccinations, preventive care, and diagnostic testing. Proposed by the black-red coalition and championed by Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU), the legislation aims to distribute healthcare responsibilities more evenly across the system to ensure adequate and accessible care, especially in rural areas.

Under the new law, pharmacies can now administer all inactivated vaccinations, including for tetanus and tick-borne diseases, and provide preventive screenings for conditions such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Patients will also have access to self-paid rapid tests for various viruses, while pharmacies gain the ability to conduct standard blood tests for adults over 18 following appropriate training.

The reform enables pharmacies to dispense certain prescription medications without a doctor’s prescription in specific cases, such as for known medications or uncomplicated acute conditions. Pharmacies will also have more flexible opening hours, replacing the previously fixed schedules. Additionally, the legislation facilitates easier access to alternative medications when stocks are low.

The law aims to strengthen pharmacies’ financial position while reducing bureaucracy, recognizing their central role in enhancing healthcare delivery. However, not all reactions have been positive: the German Pharmacists' Association welcomed the reforms, whereas the Kassenärztliche Bundesvereinigung (KBV) warned of possible risks in transferring diagnostic and therapeutic responsibilities to pharmacies.

Another notable provision addresses drug pricing by preventing exclusive rebate contracts on biosimilars with health insurers until mid-2028. Critics from insurance companies perceive this as industry favoritism.

Health Minister Warken emphasized the importance of sharing healthcare tasks more broadly, stating, "To ensure future healthcare provision, tasks must be shared more broadly, with pharmacies playing a central role." The reform is seen as a milestone in securing pharmacy networks and enhancing patient access to basic health services across Germany.