Wednesday, September 17, 2025

NOWEDA launches campaign “Strengthen Pharmacies. Now.” to safeguard local access to medicines

With its new campaign “Strengthen Pharmacies. Now.”, the cooperative NOWEDA sends a strong signal about the importance of local access to medicines. Through high-reach print media such as FOCUS, BUNTE and My Life as well as on social media, NOWEDA raises awareness of the looming undersupply and calls on policymakers to take action.

The campaign visuals feature headlines like “Pharmacies mean proximity,” “Pharmacies mean acute care,” and “Pharmacies mean emergency service.” They highlight that in Germany, every 18.5 hours a pharmacy permanently closes its doors.

NOWEDA CEO Dr. Michael Kuck criticizes the political neglect of pharmacies: “Pharmacies are accessible around the clock and play a system-critical role in healthcare. A strong, decentralized pharmacy network is as essential as police or fire services.” Pharmacies already ease the burden on GP practices by providing pharmaceutical services such as blood pressure management and support for patients with polypharmacy.

The campaign will not only be visible in major media outlets but also provide pharmacies with materials for their own use. Free posters will be delivered to NOWEDA’s customers in the coming days. Later, non-customers will also gain access to the materials.

The campaign’s key aim is to make the urgency visible: pharmacy closures continue despite commitments in the coalition agreement to strengthen them. While initial signals from the Federal Ministry of Health provide some hope, NOWEDA stresses that action must be taken now to secure nationwide access to medicines.