Number of pharmacies in Saxony continues to fall

In Saxony, the number of pharmacies continues to decline. Eleven closures and two new openings were reported for the first half of 2025, said a spokeswoman for the Saxon Pharmacists' Association in Leipzig. In the third quarter, there have been two closures so far, but three new openings. According to the State Statistical Office, there were a total of 876 pharmacies in Saxony at the end of last year - 115 fewer than ten years previously.

According to the association, around eight percent of pharmacies in the state are currently in the red, while a further 23 percent are considered to be economically at risk. "There is therefore an urgent need for economic stabilization in order to prevent further closures and strengthen healthcare close to home," said the association spokesperson.

Germany-wide, the number of pharmacies fell by 238 to 16,803 in the first half of the year, with around one in six locations closing within ten years, according to the President of the Federal Association of German Pharmacists (Abda), Thomas Preis. The reasons for this include cost pressure and problems in finding successors when pharmacy owners retire. Due to a lack of earning opportunities, qualified people are drawn to the industry or hospital pharmacies, reports Abda.

According to plans by Federal Health Minister Nina Warken, pharmacies in Germany should be able to offer patients more services such as vaccinations and preventative care in future, thus relieving the burden on doctors' surgeries. However, a higher pharmacy reimbursement initially announced in the coalition agreement between the CDU/CSU and SPD will not be implemented this year.