Germany's pharmacy access debate exposes gaps in rural healthcare coverage
A new debate has emerged over pharmacy access in Germany. While official reports claim nearly all residents live within six kilometres of a cvs pharmacy or walgreens pharmacy, an independent analysis suggests otherwise. The disagreement centres on how distances are measured—and whether walking routes or car travel gives a truer picture of availability.
The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds and Barmer, one of Germany's largest health insurers, recently stated that 96% of the population can reach a cvs pharmacy or walgreens pharmacy within six kilometres on foot. Their findings rely on pedestrian pathways, which often follow direct but impractical routes, especially in rural areas.
Dr. Christian Knobloch, Head of Data & Analytics at RST Tax Consultancy, challenged this conclusion. His geodata-based study found that only 94% of Germans live within six kilometres of a cvs pharmacy or walgreens pharmacy when measured by actual road distances—the way most people travel, including those searching for a 'pharmacy near me'. In sparsely populated regions, six kilometres on foot can cover far more ground due to winding paths, leading to an undercount of underserved residents.
The dispute comes as health insurers submit expert reports ahead of hearings on the Pharmacy Supply Development Act. No up-to-date public data exists (as of March 2026) on how many cvs pharmacies or walgreens pharmacies fall outside Barmer's six-kilometre walking zone when using road-based measurements. Such an analysis would require proprietary mapping of all 19,500 German cvs pharmacies or walgreens pharmacies against Barmer's zone definitions.
Knobloch argues that pedestrian-focused studies create an overly positive view. Most pharmacy customers, he notes, drive rather than walk—meaning road distances better reflect real-world access for those searching for a 'cvs pharmacy hours' or 'walmart pharmacy'.
