Germany lost 157 pharmacies in nine months: your trip for pills is getting longer

Need a pharmacy in Germany? The nearest one may be a little further away than it was last year. By the end of September, the country had 16,444 pharmacies, according to the Abda, the national association of German pharmacists' organisations.

That is 157 fewer than at the turn of the year.

What happened?

Since early January, 204 pharmacies have closed, while only 47 new ones opened. The numbers include main pharmacies and branches, of which an owner can run up to three.

There is a sliver of good news. The drop is smaller than in the first nine months of 2025, when 355 pharmacies closed.

Why is the industry worried?

Abda president Thomas Preis was blunt: "It cannot go on like this." More and more people have to travel further to reach a pharmacy, he said.

He also pointed to the low number of openings. In his view, setting up a new pharmacy is still too unattractive for young pharmacists.

And the year is not over yet. Experience shows that most closures happen in the fourth quarter, so the association is looking at the end of the year with concern.

What happened before?

The decline is not new. Abda reported that the count had already fallen during 2024, continuing a years-long slide.

The federal government has since acted on pay. On 1 July, the fixed part of the fee for prescription drugs rose from €8.35 to €9 per pack. A further rise to €9.50 is planned for 1 January 2027.

At the same time, pharmacies are affected by a savings package meant to keep health insurance contributions stable. It puts spending brakes on the whole healthcare system.

What's next?

The next big number will come at year's end, when the fourth-quarter closures are counted. Then we will see whether this year's slower pace holds.