Germany had 16,444 pharmacies at the end of September

Germany had 16,444 pharmacies at the end of September, 157 fewer than at the start of the year.

From January through September, 47 pharmacies opened and 204 closed.

The decline was smaller than in the same period of 2025, when 355 pharmacies closed.

The pharmacists’ association says people are having to travel farther to reach a pharmacy, and it expects closures to rise toward year-end.

Few new pharmacies are opening because setting up a location remains unattractive to younger pharmacists.

The government raised the fixed payment for each prescription medicine pack from €8.35 to €9 on July 1, with another increase to €9.50 planned for January 1, 2027.

Pharmacies are also affected by a healthcare spending package intended to keep health insurance contributions stable.