The Difference Between German Apothecaries and American Pharmacies

What makes a pharmacy a pharmacy?  That rather depends on whether you’re in Germany or the U.S..  In either country, the obvious answer is that a pharmacy will fill prescriptions and have other over the counter medications, but what would the average American say is missing from a German pharmacy (Apotheke ; Apothecary)?

First and foremost: essentially everything in the front half of the typical American chain pharmacy: the assortment ignored soaps, cosmetics, snack foods and drinks.  German apothecaries have little for sale that aren’t various vitamins, specialized cosmetics, or bandages.  Most of what you can buy at American pharmacies is instead available at shops like dm or Rossman.

Additionally, if you want most of the over the counter medicines, you’ll have to actually go to the counter to ask for it.  In the typical American pharmacy, medication like aspirin or ibuprofen is usually on a shelf where you can directly get it yourself.  At a German apothecary, even though you can get everything you’d be used to, you’ll need get one of the clerks to find it for you behind the counter.

It’s also a good idea to specify what type of medicine you’re looking for when asking for more general categories of over the counter medicines, like “allergy medicine.”  Depending on the pharmacy, you may have to specify that you’re looking for an actual medication, and not some form of vitamin supplement. 

In regards to cost for any prescriptions you might have though, you’re in a bit of luck.  Due to how the German insurance system is set up, the price for prescription medication is fixed, meaning there’s no reason not to go to whatever apothecary is most convenient for you.  If they don’t have the medication in stock for some reason, you’ll usually only have to wait until the next morning to pick it up.

Isn’t It A Bit Odd To Think We Can Buy Office Supplies At A Pharmacy In The U.S.?