The German Medical Association (BÄK) and the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) firmly reject the proposals of the ABDA Federal Association of German Pharmacists’ Associations on primary care by pharmacies. There is no solidarity between the medical profession and pharmacists on this issue, explained BÄK President Dr. Klaus Reinhardt and KBV Chairman Dr. Andreas Gassen on Monday.

The plans presented by the ABDA for “primary care light” in pharmacies represent a health policy mismanagement, it said. They fail to recognise the requirements for high-quality primary care, which is based on comprehensive medical diagnostics, a holistic understanding of the disease and a clear assumption of responsibility. This cannot be replaced by selective offers in pharmacies.

Reinhardt emphasized that a reorganization of primary care must not fragment it. Instead of parallel structures that create more bureaucracy than relief, it is necessary to strengthen existing medical care and to work together between the professional groups in line with their qualifications. This is the only way to ensure quality, continuity and patient safety.

Gassen described the ABDA’s ideas as absurd. The idea of primary care by non-medical professions leads to a deterioration in care and additional costs. While politicians are apparently providing around one billion euros for the increase in the pharmacy fee, cuts of 2.7 billion euros are planned for doctors and psychotherapists in private practice. This unilateral approach forces practices to adapt their range of services. Pharmacists apparently wanted to benefit from this, at the expense of quality and the insured.

Ultimately, the pharmacist is not responsible for possible side effects and complications of such “primary care light”, criticised the doctors’ representatives.

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Editor: X-Press Journalistenbüro GbR

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