Protest in Essen: Against "fear of pharmacy closures"

Amidst difficult times for local pharmacies and shortly before tomorrow's hearing with associations on Christian Knobloch and Sertan Deniz Öksüz of RST Apothekenberatung wanted to send a signal with the pharmacy reform to draw attention to the tense economic situation in the industry.

With their cycling campaign, they want to raise awareness that the pharmacy crisis is "no longer just an industry-specific problem, but a matter of essential public services," they emphasize in a press release. They demand that Pharmacies receive political support and social appreciation.

Last Friday, two cyclists rode through Essen's city center with eye-catching posters. Under the motto "Strengthening pharmacies instead of letting them die," they wanted to send a visible message about the future of local pharmacies.

Using buzzwords like "pharmacy closures" and "cost pressure migraines," they made it clear how much pressure the pharmacy market is under. "We experience in our daily work just how heavy the burden is," Christian Knobloch emphasized. "Stagnant fees, rising costs, a shortage of skilled workers, and political uncertainty are threatening the economic foundation of many businesses."

The response from passersby in the city center was overwhelmingly positive. Many people showed great interest, took photos, or engaged in conversation. "Many knew that pharmacies close from time to time," reports Sertan Deniz Öksüz, "but hardly anyone was aware of how dramatic the situation actually is."

Knobloch emphasized that he primarily wanted to counter the inflammatory commentary in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung entitled "Nobody needs pharmacies." He added that the action coincided with a "week full of explosive news" for the industry: the new draft legislation on pharmacy services does not foresee an increase in fees, and the drugstore chain dm announced its entry into mail-order pharmacies.

Knobloch is certain: "Without local pharmacies, patients not only lose access to medication close to home – our city centers also lose a piece of quality of life."