German retail chain DM is set to enter the pharmacy business in the second half of the year, offering non-prescription over-the-counter (OTC) products online to customers who previously could only buy them in-store. According to DM’s CEO, Christoph Werner, the company will not offer these products in its physical stores as this is not currently allowed, and instead will create an online pharmacy.
Werner attributed the move to the changing landscape of the healthcare sector, citing the demographic shift and the increasing healthcare costs. He stated that it is foreseeable that regulatory frameworks will need to change in the near future to ensure a reliable and affordable healthcare system in Germany.
DM’s CEO rejected the claim that the company’s move will accelerate the decline of pharmacies, arguing that entrepreneurial pharmacists would have opportunities to thrive in a liberalized market, much like the founders of the German drugstore industry did in the 1970s.
Werner also hinted at the possibility of extending DM’s services to healthcare, stating that the company’s product focus on beauty, photography, household, baby, and health could be a natural fit for health-related services, but this would depend on the regulatory environment. With over 2,000 DM stores, the company is exploring various healthcare services, but no specific examples were given.