Saxony's pharmacists protest against health minister Lauterbach's reform plans

Saxon pharmacists have taken to the streets to protest against the reform plans of Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD). "We will not cease to present our three most important demands again and again until they are implemented in a sustainable pharmacy reform," said Thomas Dittrich, Chairman of the Saxon Pharmacists' Association. These are an improvement in the economic framework conditions, no opening of pharmacies without the presence of a pharmacist and a reduction in bureaucracy.

Saxon Health Minister Petra Köpping (SPD) said at the demonstration on Postplatz that she understood the discontent. "We are all concerned that the supply of medicines is being jeopardized." The employees in pharmacies do a good and qualified job and are the point of contact for many people on a wide range of issues. Local pharmacies must therefore be preserved, especially in rural areas.

Protest also in Erfurt

A rally was held in Erfurt in parallel to the protest in Dresden. There had already been nationwide protests last year. At the end of November, pharmacists from the eastern German states gathered in Dresden. However, the hoped-for change has so far failed to materialize, according to the press release.

Dentists in Saxony have also announced protests. They want to close their practices on Thursday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the occasion of an internal information and protest event, as announced by the State Medical Association. The background to this is that more and more practices are closing without a successor. This jeopardizes the provision of dental care close to home and across the board in Saxony.