Germany cracks down on Dutch pharmacies flouting prescription drug pricing laws
Dutch mail-order pharmacies are still breaking German law by offering illegal discounts on prescription drugs. These discounts violate Germany's Social Security Code (SGB V), which sets fixed prices for medications. Now, the German Pharmacists' Association (ABDA) is pushing for stricter penalties to stop the practice.
The ABDA has called for a new legal framework to enforce penalties against pharmacies that ignore price regulations. Under their proposal, violations could result in fines of up to €300,000. They also want existing contractual penalties turned into official social security fines.
To ensure compliance, the ABDA suggests suspending the authorisation of any pharmacy that fails to pay penalties. This would prevent them from supplying insured patients until all fines are settled. The association has recommended that the Federal Office for Social Security (BAS) take charge of enforcement.
Currently, Dutch mail-order pharmacies continue to advertise discounts, despite the clear rules in Germany. The ABDA's proposals aim to close loopholes and strengthen oversight of foreign suppliers.
If the ABDA's recommendations are adopted, pharmacies breaking pricing laws could face heavy fines and lose their right to serve German patients. The BAS would monitor compliance, ensuring stricter control over prescription drug discounts. This would mark a significant change in how violations are handled under German social security regulations.
