Germany lost 157 pharmacies in nine months, and the trip for pills gets longer

Need a pharmacy in Germany? The nearest one is getting a bit further away. New figures show the country keeps losing them, and the industry is not happy about it.

What happened?

At the end of September, Germany had 16,444 pharmacies. That is 157 fewer than at the turn of the year, the national pharmacists' association Abda announced.

Since early January, 204 pharmacies have closed and just 47 new ones have opened. The count covers main pharmacies and branches, and one owner can run up to three.

There is one slightly better detail. The drop is smaller than in the first nine months of 2025, when 355 pharmacies closed.

Why is it a problem?

Abda president Thomas Preis did not mince words: "It can't go on like this." More and more people have to travel further to reach the nearest pharmacy, he said.

The low number of openings also tells a story. According to Preis, setting up a new location is still too unattractive for young pharmacists.

And the association is worried about the coming weeks. Experience shows that most closures happen in the fourth quarter, so the year-end figures could look worse.

What has been tried so far?

This is not a new trend. Germany's pharmacy count already fell to its lowest level in decades at the start of 2025.

The government has since acted on pay. On 1 July, the fixed part of the fee for prescription-only medicines rose from €8.35 to €9 per pack, after a long wait. Another increase to €9.50 is planned for 1 January 2027.

But pharmacies are also hit by a savings package meant to keep health insurance contributions stable. It brakes spending across the whole health system.

What's next?

The fourth quarter will show whether the slowdown in closures holds. For now, the industry says the raise has not yet turned the trend around.

If you live in a smaller town, it may be worth knowing where your nearest pharmacy is before you actually need it.