If an acute illness or disease prevention requires the use of medication, people will over-source these medications Pharmacies. In Germany, there are both retail and mail order pharmacies that sell prescription and non-prescription drugs.
What are pharmacies?
The term pharmacy includes those places where medicines and other medical devices are sold to customers. Pharmacies also test drugs and manufacture them on a small scale themselves. Since the main task of these facilities is to supply the population with pharmaceuticals, only state-certified pharmacists are allowed to operate them.
The classic staff also includes pharmacist assistants, PTA, pharmaceutical engineers and, in some institutions, trainees. The origins of the pharmacy can be found in the Damascus region, where in the 8th and 9th centuries some spice dealers added medicinal products to their range and worked closely with healing monks. In Europe it was not until the 13th century that the profession of doctor and pharmacist was separated. As a result, pharmacies developed in the form that can be found in many cities today.
The legal requirements for opening and operating a pharmacy are regulated in various areas. These include the Medicines Act and the Pharmacy Operating Regulations. These apply to retail pharmacies in cities as well as to mail order pharmacies in Germany.
Local and stationary pharmacies on site
Local pharmacies or retail pharmacies refer to establishments with customer traffic where medicines are offered for sale on site. The purchase takes place directly on site, which is possible in most cities in Germany. It is only in small communities that you cannot always find your own pharmacy.
Identification of pharmacies
In order to make pharmacists directly recognizable for customers, they use a uniform logo throughout Germany. In this logo, the letter A is in red on a white background. A medicine bowl and the Aesculapian snake are also incorporated into the letters. The design of this logo, which is still used today, goes back to Fritz Rupprecht Mathieu and dates from 1951.
Initially, it was only used in West Germany as a uniform identifier. With the reunification of Germany, all institutions in East Germany finally adopted the distinctive symbol. At local pharmacies, it is usually placed in a clearly visible form at the entrance as an advertising board or sign.
Legal regulations for pharmacies
The legal requirements for local pharmacies are regulated in the pharmacy operating regulations. In addition, there is the binding Medicines Act. Among other things, these stipulate that a state-certified pharmacist must be present on site. Only for four weeks a year in the event of vacation or illness, this may be represented by specialist staff. If a longer period of representation is required, the representation must be taken over by a state-certified pharmacist.
Advantages and disadvantages of mail order pharmacies on the Internet
Compared to mail order pharmacies, customer advice at local facilities is often more extensive. The task of pharmacists and their employees is to educate customers about the side effects of drugs. In addition, interactions with other drugs should be recognized and communicated. Particularly in the area of non-prescription products, personal and extensive advice when buying a product is often useful, as there is no prescription for the drug from a doctor.
Another advantage is that frequently required medicines are usually in stock and can be bought and taken immediately in the event of acute illness. Many pharmacies order products that are not in stock within a day and deliver them to the buyer free of charge. The waiting times usually amount to a maximum of one working day. In addition to pure drug sales, many pharmacies offer additional services. These are partly free of charge or only associated with low costs. Classic services include measuring blood pressure and blood sugar levels, advice on first-aid kits and vaccinations, as well as the rental of medical aids.
The disadvantage of buying in local facilities compared to buying online from a mail order pharmacy is the cost of medicines. Online price savings of up to 60 percent are possible for non-prescription drugs. In addition, shopping is only possible within the regular opening times. Outside of these there is a pharmacy emergency service in large cities and districts, which ensures the supply of medicines outside normal business hours in acute emergencies.
Mail order pharmacies on the Internet
Mail order pharmacies handle the supply of pharmaceuticals exclusively by post and take orders online, by telephone or sometimes by fax. In online shops, they offer both prescription and non-prescription drugs and other items relating to health, fitness and wellness and deliver them to customers by mail.
Statutory regulations for mail order pharmacies
The pharmacy operating regulations and the Medicines Act regulate that mail-order pharmacies must also offer their customers extensive advice when purchasing. This is usually done by email, chat or phone. Mail order pharmacies may only be operated within Germany if a local pharmacy is also available. The situation is different if the mail-order pharmacy is located in another European country.
Advantages and disadvantages of mail order pharmacies
A noticeable advantage of mail order pharmacies are the prices for drugs. Especially with non-prescription drugs, there are often significant savings when buying online. In the case of prescription drugs, some mail-order pharmacies from abroad give bonuses when redeeming prescriptions, which allows savings in co-payments. In any case, however, the original recipe must be sent. Some providers take over the postage costs or offset them with the purchase value.
Discretion when shopping is also an advantage. Unlike in local pharmacies, there is no personal contact between pharmacist and customer. In addition, it is possible to buy medicines in mail-order pharmacies around the clock. Instead of going to a local pharmacy, purchases are made online from your PC at home and the items are delivered straight to your home. This can be an advantage for people with restricted mobility or a very rural place of residence.
However, the shipping times are a disadvantage compared to the local pharmacy. Depending on the type of medication, it can take several working days for the consignment to reach the customer. In the case of an acute illness, this time window is often too long. However, the shipping time is not a problem for predictable drug purchases for a regular requirement. In many cases, the consultation is also less. It must be offered according to legal requirements, but many customers do not use it.
The information about side effects and interactions is therefore not given in every case. In addition, not all mail-order pharmacies offer direct billing with the health insurance company for additional payments for prescription drugs. In some cases customers have to do this themselves and have to pay in advance.
You should pay attention to this when choosing your local pharmacy or mail order pharmacy!
Various criteria play a role when choosing a pharmacy. In the case of a mail order pharmacy, it is advisable for consumers to pay attention to the location of the main branch. Within Europe, there are largely uniform regulations with regard to buyer protection, safety and drug regulations.
Preparations from more distant foreign countries may not be permitted in Germany because there are no tests. Such preparations usually pass through customs on the shipping route and, in the course of consumer protection, are in many cases not delivered to the buyer. Therefore, it only makes sense to order from mail order pharmacies in Germany and other EU countries.
It is also worth taking a look at the test seals for online shopping. For example, they provide information on customer data protection and the encryption of relevant order data. It can also be helpful to use reviews from previous customers as a guide. This applies to both mail order and retail pharmacies.
Anyone who urgently needs a medication or wants intensive advice is in good hands at the local pharmacy. Online pharmacies often offer lucrative price savings with regular and predictable purchase of medicines.
