A survey by aposcope, an online market research tool in the pharmacy and pharmaceutical market, shows that many pharmacists are afraid of the introduction of the e-prescription because it could significantly strengthen mail-order sales. A survey on 16 December 2019 with a total of 315 pharmacy owners, employed pharmacists and pharmaceutical technical assistants (PTA) produced this result. However, pharmacists are by no means thinking of giving up. In order not to admit defeat, many of them want to invest above all in digitisation and in the expansion of the courier service, which has been declared an exception to the rule by the legislator. 78 percent of all pharmacists expect a massive strengthening of the mail order business, while 87 percent of pharmacy owners are very pessimistic about the year 2020. Whereas in the past other priorities were set, such as investment in staff and equipment, for example, other topics such as digitisation, in which pharmacists currently and in the future want to invest money, now dominate, but still continue to invest in staff (35 percent). Local pharmacists see a clear advantage of their business and this is their locational advantage, which they would like to use in the future to remain competitive despite the introduction of the e-prescription. This is why 52 percent of the owners would also like to strengthen the courier service of local pharmacies this year. In addition, 70 percent of all owners are thinking about joining a platform concept, although 20 percent are not at all convinced. Owners are, however, more open to the subject area than their employed team. Following a statement by the EU Commission on the planned ban on bonuses, Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn wants to give pharmacists a helping hand with the law to strengthen local pharmacies, because part of the law will also include the remuneration of new pharmaceutical services. However, the survey participants are critical of the whole thing, with only 31 percent placing hope in this part of the law to strengthen local pharmacies, while 56 percent have serious doubts.
