More responsibilities for pharmacies? Warken and Reinhardt are not equally optimistic.

Berlin. Federal Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) has announced reforms and a reduction in bureaucracy in the healthcare system. She stated at the Hartmannbund's general assembly on Friday in Berlin that the mandate for politicians is to change structures so that people see their doctors less frequently, but receive more targeted treatment. The overarching goal, she said, must be closer cooperation between the various professional groups in the healthcare system.

This included expanding the powers and reducing bureaucracy for nursing professions, said the minister, adding that the legislation is soon to be passed in the Bundestag. She also plans to grant pharmacists more autonomy.

Prevention and vaccination in the pharmacy

It is important that everyone recognizes the potential of such a reorganization. Pharmacies could easily reach people who would otherwise not go to a doctor's office. They could offer them preventative care and vaccination opportunities.

She acknowledged the criticism from the medical profession that this could also involve dispensing medication without a prescription. She explained that this would involve exceptions for urgent needs of chronically ill patients, and for follow-up medication in the smallest available package size. "I believe this helps patients and does not infringe on the physician's right to determine treatment," Warken said. Nevertheless, she acknowledged the considerable public outcry. She intends to define the exceptions in collaboration with the medical profession. This, she said, is an offer to begin a dialogue on the matter.

People should have the opportunity to come into contact with the topic of health in pharmacies and be motivated to adopt health-promoting behavior, retorted Dr. Klaus Reinhardt, chairman of the Hartmannbund and president of the German Medical Association.

He could imagine occasionally offering vaccinations with inactivated vaccines at the pharmacy, as he didn't want to provoke a "shitstorm". However, since these services are already available in doctors' offices, the need to expand pharmacy offerings in this direction is relative.

Reinhardt: I have problems dispensing without a prescription

Pharmacists could provide assistance, particularly in the area of ​​safe medication therapy management. "I believe there are genuine competencies there," said Reinhardt, which, if used wisely, could offer a real opportunity. This applies, for example, to the care of elderly patients, who also obtain over-the-counter medications from the pharmacy, medications that doctors are often unaware of.

He stated that there were problems with dispensing antibiotics without a prescription, for example, for so-called "uncomplicated urinary tract infections." He added that this was also problematic in Germany in light of the need to prevent antibiotic resistance.

Warken had no new information to report regarding the German fee schedule for physicians (GOÄ). The proposal from the German Medical Association, the Private Health Insurance Association, and the public health insurance providers was on the table. It was clear that this was a compromise between very different partners. A third partner was not involved in the negotiations: namely, the insured population. Their interests also had to be taken into account.

Initial discussions will take place at the ministry level. She herself is also considering the idea of ​​a "process of ongoing, regular adjustments" in the future. However, there are still several points to clarify. Time must be taken, Warken said. (af)