DM now selling non-prescription medicine online

Starting on December 16, German chemist chain DM will sell non-prescription medication via its online stores. Until now, medication has only been available from pharmacies in Germany.

DM launches online medication sales

People in Germany can now buy a range of 2.500 non-prescription medications, such as ibuprofen and paracetamol, on the DM website, but not in DM stores.

Back in October, DM, Lidl and Rossmann announced that they would begin selling non-prescription medication online. Unlike in other countries, chemists and supermarkets in Germany do not sell non-prescription medication, which is sold exclusively in pharmacies.

DM is now the first of the three to launch its online non-prescription store. Since German law still only allows licensed pharmacies to sell medication, DM will send German customers their orders from offices in Czechia.

Philippi warns that patients still need advice

DM’s decision marks a significant shift for the German pharmacies and the pharmaceutical market, and there are some concerns.  Health Minister in Lower Saxony, Andreas Philippi (SPD), warned that patients might be more likely to self-diagnose, rather than seek reliable advice from a pharmacist, according to a report from NDR.

Pharmacists also have concerns. Head of the German Association of Pharmacists (DAV) Hans-Peter Hubmann said that it must be clear that potent and potentially dangerous medication should only be issued by pharmacists and “not handed out by chemist chains driven by marketing”.

Consumer associations say that customers will now have to make the choice between quick access to cheap medication or good advice.