In one sentence
An apothekenübliche Dienstleistung is a health-related service a pharmacy may offer alongside medicines, typically paid for privately by the customer. It is separate from a pharmazeutische Dienstleistung, which the health insurers finance.
An apothekenübliche Dienstleistung is a service that is customary for a pharmacy and serves health, offered alongside the medicines business. In practice these are the privately paid offerings:
- Prevention checks are one of the everyday examples.
- Measurements carried out in the pharmacy are another example.
- Health counselling that the customer pays for belongs here as well.
They are often called Selbstzahlerleistungen, because the customer pays for them directly.
The distinction that matters is the source of the money. A pharmazeutische Dienstleistung is regulated in statute and financed from its own pot, whereas an apothekenübliche Dienstleistung is financed by the customer. Presenting one as the other causes real problems, so the two have to be communicated and billed cleanly apart.
Price transparency is central, so the total price and what it covers should be stated clearly and in writing before the service. Advertising is governed by the Heilmittelwerbegesetz, which permits factual information but prohibits promises of cure and guarantees of success.
Diagnostics belongs in this category naturally, because a Point-of-Care-Test or a blood panel taken by venöse Blutentnahme can be offered privately, provided the pharmacy collects and contextualises the values and leaves medical interpretation to a physician.
This glossary entry is general information about German pharmacy law and practice. It is not legal advice. For binding guidance on your own pharmacy, contact your Landesapothekerkammer.
