Pharmacies & medicine in Germany

Whether you’ve got a prescription from a doctor in Germany, or just have a headache or a cold, your best bet for picking up some medication is to head to a pharmacy (Apotheke). This page looks at how pharmacies in Germany work, the differences between pharmacies and drugstores, and how to get prescription medication. 

The German pharmacy (Apotheke)

Newcomers to Germany might find its approach to medicines strange: it is not generally possible to buy medication - even over-the-counter medicines like cold tablets and mild painkillers - from drugstores or supermarkets. Instead, the pharmacy reigns supreme in the world of dispensing medicines. 

In Germany, a pharmacy is known as an Apotheke. This is a legally protected title, and can only be used by licensed pharmacies that meet strict national standards, overseen by the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM). 

Pharmacies can be found all over German cities and towns, and are instantly-recognisable by the large red “A” on their signs. All Apotheken are run independently, rather than as part of larger business chains. 

Legally, each Apotheke must have a licensed pharmacist (Apotheker/in) on site whenever it is open. Pharmacists in Germany are highly trained and can offer good advice about treatments, dosages and potential interactions. Indeed, they are legally required to advise you on your prescriptions. In this way, they constitute another pillar of care in the German healthcare system in their own right. 

If you need medication in Germany - prescription or no prescription - you’ll need to head to your local pharmacy and have a chat with the pharmacist.  

Find your local pharmacy 

You can find your local pharmacy by checking Apotheken.de, the official directory of pharmacies in Germany. Simply enter your city, street or postcode, or share your location, to bring up a list of options. 

How to buy medicines in Germany

In Germany, medication is tightly regulated to ensure treatments are used appropriately and to protect patients’ health. Rarely can you simply walk into a pharmacy, pick up a packet of pills and purchase it. Instead, you need to have a chat with the pharmacist to discuss your condition and treatment options. 

Exactly how this proceeds depends on whether the medication you’re looking for is prescription or non-prescription. 

Over-the-counter medications

Many medications are available in Germany without a prescription, if purchased in small quantities with low dosages. This includes things like:

• Mild painkillers like paracetamol, ibuprofen and aspirin
• Cold and flu relief
• Anti-histamines 
• Antifungal and wound care products
• Antacids and digestive supplements
• Emergency contraception 

You don’t need a prescription from a doctor to purchase these kinds of medications, but you will need to ask the pharmacist for advice. 

Note that non-prescription medication is not (normally) covered by your health insurance. 

Prescription medications

You’ll need a prescription from a doctor for many different kinds of medicines. The Ordinance on the Prescription of Medicinal Products (AMVV) lays out exactly which drugs must be prescribed by a doctor. This includes:

• Antibiotics 
• Antidepressants, mood stabilisers and antipsychotics 
• Opioids and sedatives
• ADHD medications
• Hormonal treatments like birth control pills or hormone therapies 
• Insulin
• Blood pressure medications 

Filling a prescription in Germany

As of January 1, 2024, most prescriptions in Germany are sent electronically via the e-prescription (e-Rezept) system. Your doctor will give you one of the following:

• A digital QR code via the official e-Rezept app
• A printed QR code, if you prefer

You may still receive a paper prescription in the following circumstances:

• You have private health insurance
• You don’t have an electronic health insurance card
• The prescription is for an over-the-counter medication or a medication not covered by insurance 
• Your prescription is for a specific controlled substance that requires stricter documentation

How to get your prescription

You can then take your prescription to any pharmacy in Germany to have it filled. You can take your prescription to any pharmacy, not necessarily the one closest to you or to your GP’s office.

The pharmacist will dispense the medication and explain how to take it. 

Are prescriptions free in Germany?

If you are covered by statutory health insurance in Germany, your prescription is partially covered by your insurance. The pharmacist will scan your health insurance card to charge your insurer. However, you will typically be asked for a co-payment (Zuzahlung). This is 10% of the prescription cost, a minimum of €5 and a maximum of €10. 

No co-payments are required for children and young people under the age of 18, or for recommended vaccines. 

Co-payments are also subject to annual limits:

• 2% of your gross income
• 1% of your gross income, if you have a chronic illness 

If you exceed this limit within a given year, you can ask your health insurance company for a certificate, which exempts you from co-payments for the rest of the year. If you receive a lot of prescriptions, make sure you keep your receipts to keep track of how much you have paid. 

Some prescriptions do not require a co-payment. You can see a list of which medicines are co-payment-free on the GKV Spitzenverband website. Your health insurance provider might also have agreements with pharmaceutical manufacturers to make some other medications co-payment-free. 

If you are privately insured, you will usually pay the whole cost upfront and then later claim for reimbursement from your insurance company. Exactly how much you get reimbursed depends on the details of your individual policy. If you’re not sure, it’s a good idea to contact your insurer for pre-approval before filling the prescription. 

Do German pharmacies accept foreign prescriptions? 

In general, no, German pharmacies do not accept foreign prescriptions. While prescriptions issued in the EU are generally accepted, they must meet certain conditions. Non-EU prescriptions may be accepted, but only if they have been issued by a doctor who is approved to practice in the EU. It is generally therefore easier to visit a doctor in Germany to get a new prescription. 

Can someone else pick up my prescription?

Yes, it is possible for someone else to pick up your prescription. With the e-Rezept app, you can use the family function to receive someone else’s prescriptions to your mobile phone. 

Alternatively, you can give someone else your paper prescription to fill at the pharmacy. The pharmacist might ask to see your health insurance card before releasing the medication. 

Can pharmacists prescribe medicines? 

While pharmacists can give advice, dispense prescription drugs and suggest over-the-counter medications, they are not generally permitted to prescribe medicines in Germany. However, as of 2022 they are being given more freedom to offer additional services, such as: 

• Vaccinations
• Flu shots
• Blood pressure monitoring
• Cholesterol testing
• HIV self-test kits 
• Diabetes risk screenings 

Drugstores in Germany

In Germany, there is a big difference between a pharmacy and a drugstore (Drogerie). This difference is sometimes confusing for new arrivals. 

While pharmacies pretty much only dispense medicines, drugstores are where you go to buy toiletries, cosmetics, vitamins and supplements, homeopathic remedies and first aid supplies. Drugstores do not typically sell over-the-counter medicines in their stores - but as of 2026 some chains including Rossman and DM have started selling medication online. 

Buying medications online

A growing number of companies sell medication online in Germany. While this may be a convenient option, there are some unscrupulous sellers out there who sell falsified medications. You should always check you are purchasing from an authorised seller. The German Register of Online Medicine Retailers operates a national register. You should also check that the website bears the official security logo. 

Thanks to the e-prescription, it’s now possible to buy prescription medication simply online: just upload the QR code when prompted, and the website will do the rest. You can also upload a copy of your paper prescription, if you don’t have an e-prescription. Your prescription should be delivered to your door in a matter of days. 

A growing number of companies (including Rossman, DM, Lidl and others) are also branching into selling non-prescription medication online, utilising a loophole that allows them to ship medications to Germany from countries abroad like the Netherlands or Czechia. These online stores are often cheaper than the products sold in pharmacies. 

However, it’s still worth talking to your doctor or pharmacist about your symptoms and asking for their professional advice before purchasing medication online. 

Emergency pharmacies

Pharmacies in Germany usually stick to standard shop-opening times and are closed evenings, Sundays and public holidays. 

If you need medication outside of normal working hours, you can also visit your local emergency pharmacy. Most towns and cities will have at least one emergency pharmacy that is open evenings, weekends and public holidays. You may be charged an additional supplement to use the out-of-hours service.