Pharmacy Reform Bill: 40 Associations Invited to Parliamentary Hearing
Germany's Pharmacy Reform Bill faces pivotal Bundestag debate this week
Germany's pharmacy reform is entering a critical phase in the legislative process. This week, the Bundestag is scheduled to hold its first reading of the bill, with a public hearing in the Health Committee set for next week.
On Thursday, the Apothekenversorgungs-Weiterentwicklungsgesetz (Pharmacy Supply Development Act, or ApoVWG) will undergo its first reading in the Bundestag, listed as item 9 on the agenda starting at 11:20 a.m. It will be debated alongside the Left Party's motion, "Strengthening Pharmacies, Improving Drug Supply." Following a 60-minute discussion, both proposals are expected to be referred to the Health Committee for further deliberation.
Ahead of the plenary session, parliamentary groups will revisit the draft legislation. During today's meeting of the CDU/CSU faction, scheduled for 4:00 p.m., lawmakers will discuss the readings planned for this session week. The ApoVWG is the final item on the agenda, with initial focus on upcoming second and third readings before addressing first readings. CDU health policy spokesperson Simone Borchardt will serve as rapporteur on the matter.
Next Wednesday, the Health Committee will hold its hearing from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. The agenda also includes the AfD's motion, "Safeguarding Nationwide Pharmacy-Based Drug Supply for the Future."
A broad range of professional associations and organizations have been invited by the parliamentary groups to participate:
- ABDA – Federal Union of German Associations of Pharmacists
- Adexa – Association of Employed Pharmacists in Germany
- ADKA – Federal Association of German Hospital Pharmacists
- AOK Federal Association – Germany's largest public health insurance fund
- Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in Germany (AWMF)
- Drug Commission of German Physicians (AkdÄ)
- BKK Federal Association – Company-based health insurance funds
- Federal Chamber of Pharmacists (BAK)
- Federal Working Group of Free Welfare (BAGFW)
- German Medical Association (BÄK)
- Federal Association of Supply Pharmacists (BVVA)
- Federal Association of German Pharmacy Cooperatives (BVDAK)
- Federal Association of German Mail-Order Pharmacies (BVDVA)
- German Medical Technology Association (BVMed)
- Federal Association of Pharmaceutical-Technical Assistants (BVpta)
- Federal Association for Prevention and Health Promotion (BVPG)
- German Foundation for Patient Protection
- German Nursing Council (DPR)
- gematik – Society for Telematics Applications in Healthcare
- National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (GKV-Spitzenverband)
- National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV)
- Phagro – Federal Association of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers
- Pharma Deutschland – Association of the Pharmaceutical Industry
- Pro Generika – Association of Generic Drug Manufacturers
- German Social Association (SoVD)
- Verdi – United Services Union
- Association of the Diagnostics Industry (VDGH)
- Association of Substitute Health Funds (vdek)
- German Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (vfa)
- Association of Private Health Insurers (PKV-Verband)
- Association of Pharmacists Producing Cytostatic Drugs (VZA)
- Federation of German Consumer Organizations (vzbv)
- Association of Democratic Pharmacists (VdPP)
- via – Association of Innovative Pharmacies
In addition to the associations, three individual experts have been invited: Daniela Hänel (Linda Pharmacy, Zwickau-Nordvorstadt), Marc Raddatz (Local Pharmacy Initiative), and Thomas Rochell (Pharmacists' Association of Westphalia-Lippe, AVWL).
