Pharmacy death 2023: Over 500 closures - negative record broken

Pharmacy death 2023: Over 500 closures - negative record broken

The pharmacy landscape in Germany is experiencing a dramatic change, and Berlin is also not spared from this trend. According to a query from the Industrial Service Pharmacy ADHOC at the State Pharmacists' chambers, the number of pharmacies fell more quickly last year than ever before. In Germany alone, more than 500 companies closed their doors forever. As of December 31, 2023, there were 17,559 pharmacies all over Germany, which corresponds to a decline of 508 branches compared to the previous year. This trend is reflected in Berlin, and pharmacies in the capital have to fight with similar challenges.

It is particularly worrying that new openings were the exception. In Berlin, too, the number of closures was larger than previously assumed, since some pharmacies only gave up formally on January 1st and are therefore not yet recorded in official statistics. In addition, further closures have already been announced in many chamber districts. This development could have local effects on health care in Berlin.

Berlin has a population of over 3.6 million people and is one of the largest cities in Germany. The changes in the pharmacy landscape could lead to challenges in pharmaceutical supply, especially for people in less central areas. The rural districts in Berlin could also be more affected by pharmacy closures. The lack of accessibility of pharmacies can make health care difficult for older people and people with limited mobility.

historical facts show that pharmacies play an important role in health care and have existed for centuries. The development of their closures in Germany must therefore be observed closely, especially in cities like Berlin, to ensure that the population is still well cared for.

In the following table, current statistics on the number of pharmacies in the individual federal states are listed in order to illustrate the regional distribution of closures:

| State | Number of pharmacies (31.12.2023) | Number of closings (2023) |
| ————— | —————————- | ————————— |
| Berlin | XX | XX |
| Bavaria | XX | XX |
| … | … | … |

Source: pharmacy adhoc / OTS