First Pharmacy Highlights

To prepare for the German pharmacy board exam I began volunteering at a local pharmacy. The experience has been fascinating and I look forward to learning more and seeing new ways of accomplishing similar goals. Some fun factoids that I think may be of particular interest to my US colleagues are listed below. 

German pharmacies are easy to recognize with this standardized symbol 

Fun Pharmacy Factoids and Observations

• No refills on all Rx's
• No electronic, telephone or faxed prescriptions accepted, just hardcopies
• I haven't seen a pharmacy with a drive thru 
• Herbal remedies are prescribed and used more commonly
• Pharmacies are closed on Sundays. If you need a medication you can look online to see which pharmacy close to you has been assigned the Sunday shift. Sundays and nights shifts are rotated among the pharmacies in the region.
• There are no large chain pharmacies
• Changes to Rx in regards to dose, quantities, adding/removing DAW1, medication form i.e. tablets to liquid, require a date and additional signature from the prescriber documented on original Rx hardcopy
• The average store hours for a community pharmacy are from 8/9 AM to 6:30/7:30PM

Opioids and Stimulant Scripts 

• Rx's valid for 8 days (this includes the date written)
• Rx's are printed on a required standardized yellow triplicate form with a serial number

This pharmacy established in 1620 found its permanent residence here in 1767 

Privately insured patients (11.3 % of population in 2011)

• Patients pay the entire cost of the Rx upfront and then submit the Rx to the insurance company for reimbursement
• Prescriptions are printed on a standardized blue form
• Blue Rx's are valid for 3 months (excluding opioids and stimulants)

State Funded Health Insurance Covered Patients

• Rx's are valid for 1 month. The Rx must be dispensed within the timeframe. Most copays are 5-10 Euros (approx. $5.40- $10.80) or less per Rx for up to 100 days (exceptions apply i.e. patient brand/ manufacture preference...).
• Rx's are printed on a standardized red form

Rx with Braille visible and sticker with dosing directions

Medication Packaging

• Medications are sold in original packaging in blister packs. No counting trays are needed. 
• Doctors prescribe in the boxed quantities available on the market (some exceptions apply)
• Medication packages also have the medication name printed in braille 

Fascinating isn't it?