Statement of the VDGH On the draft bill of the Federal Ministry of Health Draft Act on Pharmacy Fee and Pharmacy Structure Reform (Pharmacy Reform Act - ApoRG)

Germany has one of the best healthcare systems in the world, with comprehensive healthcare provision and comparatively good access to a wide range of healthcare services. There is widespread consensus on this assessment. However, it is based on the status quo and should not obscure the fact that our healthcare system is facing a challenge of the century due to demographic developments. The shortage and ageing of the workforce applies in particular to health care professionals and is accompanied by an increasing demand for health services from an ageing population. There are already signs of a shortage of specialists and supply difficulties in rural areas. It is important to ensure fast and low-threshold access to healthcare services, even under changing conditions. This challenge can be met with two central approaches, namely the increased use of (digital) technologies to relieve healthcare professionals of routine activities on the one hand and the overcoming of rigid sector boundaries to increase efficiency gains in the system on the other. In view of this, the VDGH fundamentally welcomes the planned Pharmacy Reform Act in terms of its objectives. Low-threshold access to laboratory diagnostics, in this case in the form of point-of-care tests (POCT) and self-administered tests that are carried out or sold in pharmacies, can effectively support this objective.