Pharmacy Closures in Munich: 80 Pharmacies Disappear in a Decade, Trudering-Riem Most Affected
Munich, January 20 – Munich has experienced a significant reduction in its pharmacy landscape, with a total of 80 pharmacies closing down over the last ten years. This decline is raising concerns about healthcare accessibility, particularly in certain districts. Currently, only 299 pharmacies remain in the city, a stark contrast to the 395 operating in 2012.
Trudering-Riem: The Most Underserved District
New figures from the Statistical Office reveal that Trudering-Riem has the fewest pharmacies per capita in Munich. In this district, a single pharmacy serves an average of 11,022 residents. This is significantly higher than the Munich average, where one pharmacy caters to 5,375 residents. In comparison, the district of Altstadt-Lehel boasts the best coverage, with one pharmacy serving only 981 residents.
Stefan Ziegler of the CSU, head of the Trudering-Riem district committee, acknowledges that while the situation is not yet critical enough to have reached the committee, it is likely only a matter of time. “The Messestadt is growing, we have many new development areas,” Ziegler stated. “Overall, 20,000 to 25,000 additional citizens are coming. If no new pharmacies open, we will have a supply bottleneck.”
Consequences for Munich Residents
The widespread closures mean that overall healthcare provision is deteriorating for Munich’s residents. While another pharmacy might be in relatively close proximity, it often requires additional travel. Thomas Metz, spokesperson for the Bavarian Pharmacists’ Association, noted, “You might have to travel an extra bus or tram station. The distances are getting longer, though not as much as in rural areas.”
These longer distances are particularly challenging for the elderly. “It is especially important for older people because they cannot travel long distances,” said district committee head Ziegler. The closures also lead to increased workloads for the remaining pharmacies, resulting in longer queues and waiting times for patients.
Financial Pressures on Pharmacies
According to Metz, the closures are not a sign of pharmacies making excessive profits when competitors close. Instead, he highlights the increasing financial burden on pharmacies. “The burden on pharmacies is increasing, everything is getting more expensive, but for prescription medicines, there has only been a marginal increase in remuneration in the last 20 years,” Metz explained. He specified that while pharmacy costs have risen by approximately 65 percent, remuneration for pharmacies was only increased by 3.1 percent to 8.35 euros in 2013.
Metz also pointed out that approximately seven percent of all pharmacies are operating at a loss, indicating that running a pharmacy is far from a guaranteed profitable venture. He stressed the need for action to make the profession more attractive to new generations.
Limited Local Influence
Despite the concerns of local politicians, their influence over pharmacy provision is limited. The city of Munich itself has little direct control over the matter. The Government of Upper Bavaria and the Bavarian State Chamber of Pharmacists are responsible for regulating pharmacies. The municipal health department (GSR) confirmed that there is no “communal supply level” for pharmacies that would allow for an assessment of the supply situation or distribution within the city.
Public Opinion on the Pharmacy Situation
An AZ survey revealed mixed opinions among Munich residents:
- Sascha Mrotzek (49), fashion consultant: “I live in Oberhaching – and there are two pharmacies there. I am very grateful for that. In Munich city center, I have noticed twice that pharmacies had closed – and there is no longer a pharmacy at that location. I was a bit shocked – I suspect they didn’t have enough customers anymore.”
- Fides-Maria Hemmersbach (81), private citizen: “I feel very well supplied by my pharmacy. If the weather is very bad or if there is snow or ice – then they bring me my medication.”
- Ramin Namdary (55), employee: “It’s complaining at a high level when people talk about pharmacy problems in Munich. We have everything here – it’s different in Africa.”
- Marius Gabriel (63), media educator: “I come from a family of doctors and always find enough pharmacies. I am often in the city center. I am often surprised by how many employees there are. I think the situation in hospitals is different. In Munich, I don’t see a pharmacy problem.”
The ongoing trend of pharmacy closures in Munich highlights a growing challenge for healthcare access in the rapidly expanding city, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Source: https://www.abendzeitung-muenchen.de/muenchen/apothekensterben-in-muenchen-wo-es-brennt-art-1106617
