Pharmacy access guaranteed in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, but emergency distances increase

Pharmacy accessibility in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern remains strong, according to a study by the health insurance fund Barmer. The findings indicate that four out of five residents live less than six kilometers from their nearest pharmacy.

Further highlighting the convenient access, nearly two-thirds of the population, specifically 63 percent, live within two kilometers of a pharmacy. Only a small fraction, four percent, face a journey of more than ten kilometers to reach the nearest dispensing point. Barmer stated that this close proximity ensures adequate service availability despite a decrease in the overall number of pharmacies in the state.

However, the study also points to a change in emergency services. Since the beginning of the year, residents needing medication during nighttime or on Sundays might have to travel further. The maximum distance between emergency service pharmacies in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has been extended from 25 kilometers to 35 kilometers.

Data from the Schwerin Ministry of Health shows a decline in the number of pharmacies in the state. At the end of 2024, there were 361 pharmacies, a decrease from 401 ten years prior. This reduction has implications, particularly for emergency access.