The way medicines can be purchased in Germany is set to change rapidly, with high street drugstore chain DM officially launching an online pharmacy on Tuesday.
Rossmann and supermarket giant Lidl are reportedly preparing to follow suit, with plans to offer non-prescription (over-the-counter, OTC) medicines via their websites.
To comply with German law, which restricts pharmacy operations to licensed pharmacists, the companies plan to ship medicines from neighbouring countries – DM from the Czech Republic and Rossmann from the Netherlands.
What will this mean for consumers?
Many foreign residents in Germany, used to picking up painkillers or cold remedies at supermarkets or drugstores in their home countries, will welcome the change.
Until now, German law has meant that even basic medicines like paracetamol or ibuprofen could only be bought at pharmacies (Apotheken), although certain low-risk remedies such as vitamin supplements or herbal teas have long been available in drugstores or supermarkets.
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The move by DM and others allows consumers to order many OTC medicines online, potentially at lower prices and with greater convenience.
A survey by Sempora Consulting found that around two-thirds of respondents could imagine buying OTC medicines from trusted brands like DM and Rossmann.
The chains still can't offer common OTC medicines in physical shops in Germany, but customers can now pick up OTC medicines ordered from DM at their in-store collection points.
So far, the company has invested in 1,847 collection points at branches across the country, and recently started testing the use of 24/7 pick-up stations at six locations.
Prescription-only medicines will continue to be dispensed exclusively by licenced pharmacies and require a doctor’s prescription.
What else do people need to know?
Buying medicines online carries risks. The European Medicines Agency warns that unregistered websites may sell falsified or substandard medicines, which can be ineffective or even harmful.
Always check for the EU safety logo and verify the retailer in the national register before purchasing.
Be wary of sites offering prescription medicines without a prescription, bulk discounts, or miracle cures – these are red flags for counterfeit products.
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Additionally, shipping from abroad may affect returns, liability, and warranty. Always read the fine print and compare total costs, including delivery fees.
What does this mean for pharmacies in Germany?
The entry of major retailers into the online pharmacy market is expected to intensify competition and could threaten the survival of many traditional pharmacies.
The number of brick-and-mortar pharmacies in Germany has already been declining, reaching its lowest level since the 1970s, with just over 17,000 remaining at the end of 2024, according to the Federal Union of German Associations of Pharmacists (ABDA).
Industry insiders have described the move by DM as a major threat to traditional pharmacies, citing its strong brand trust, large customer base, and digital expertise.
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Fabian Kaske of the Kaske Group told Handelsblatt that, “DM brings three rare strengths to the digital health market: enormous brand trust, a huge active customer base with high app usage and a proven track record of excellence in day-to-day business.”
While online pharmacies can help fill gaps in rural areas and for people with limited mobility, the decline of local pharmacies could ultimately make it harder to access prescription medicines and professional advice, especially outside urban centres.
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