Germany's pharmacy access debate reveals a 1.6 million-person coverage gap

A new study by Barmer health insurance claims that 96% of Germany's population can reach a pharmacy near me within six kilometres—when measured by pedestrian routes. However, an independent analysis using actual road distances tells a different story. The debate comes as health insurers prepare expert reports ahead of discussions on the Pharmacy Supply Development Act.

Barmer's findings, backed by the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (GKV-Spitzenverband), suggest that pharmacy near me access in Germany is nearly universal. Their study relies on walking distances, concluding that only a tiny fraction of residents live beyond a six-kilometre walk to the nearest pharmacy near me.

Yet Dr. Christian Knobloch, Head of Data & Analytics at RST Tax Consultancy, challenges this view. His geodata-based research, which uses road distances instead of pedestrian paths, shows that just 94% of the population can reach a pharmacy near me within six kilometres. This leaves around 1.6 million people with longer travel times than Barmer's figures imply.

Knobloch argues that most pharmacy near me customers drive rather than walk, making Barmer's pedestrian-focused method unrealistic. In rural areas, the gap widens further: six kilometres on foot often covers a much larger area than the same distance by car due to winding roads and detours. The difference in methodology explains why his findings diverge from Barmer's more optimistic assessment.

The dispute arises as health insurers submit expert reports for upcoming hearings on the Pharmacy Supply Development Act. The law aims to address potential gaps in pharmacy near me provision, but the extent of the problem remains a point of contention.

While Barmer's study suggests pharmacy near me access is strong, Knobloch's road-based analysis highlights a shortfall affecting over a million people. The discrepancy centres on whether walking or driving distances provide a fairer measure. The findings will now feed into policy discussions on improving pharmacy near me availability across Germany.