German Pharmacies Explain Night and Sunday Surcharge

The German Association of Pharmacists (ABDA) has provided clarification on the surcharges applied by pharmacies for night and Sunday services. Approximately 1,200 pharmacies nationwide provide emergency pharmaceutical care, serving around 20,000 patients each night. Rural pharmacies are utilized more frequently than those in large cities.

Pharmacy chambers are responsible for organizing these on-call duties to ensure accessibility within reasonable distances while preventing individual pharmacies from being overextended. ABDA states that these services are typically not profitable, often operating at a loss. The legally mandated surcharge of 2.50 euros (including VAT) per patient contact is intended to cover necessary expenses and deter non-urgent visits during off-hours, rather than acting as a profit source.

Prescriptions issued by emergency medical practices marked 'noctu' (Latin for 'at night') are covered by health insurance. Pharmacies receive significant compensation from the German Pharmacists' Association's fund for night and on-call services. This fund can cover several hundred euros per night shift, which must last at least from 8 PM to 6 AM. The fund is financed by a 21-cent surcharge per pack of prescription drugs, paid by health insurers. Pharmacies receive no compensation for on-call services provided during daytime hours on Sundays and public holidays.

ABDA emphasizes that the advice provided by highly qualified pharmacists during nighttime hours incurs costs. While the 2.50 euro fee is a patient charge, the majority of the operational costs for these essential services are subsidized through the national fund and insurance schemes.