Bundesrat Approves Pension Adjustment, Pharmacy Reform, and Violence Protection

More Powers for Pharmacies

The black-red coalition of CDU/CSU and SPD had pushed the pharmacy reform through the Bundestag; the Bundesrat now approved it three weeks later. The core of the initiative is a significant expansion of the services pharmacies will be allowed to offer in the future. In addition to flu and COVID-19 vaccinations, pharmacies will now also be permitted to administer vaccinations with so-called inactivated vaccines, such as against tetanus. "Apotheken dürfen künftig neben Impfungen gegen Grippe und Corona alle Schutzimpfungen mit sogenannten Totimpfstoffen anbieten, zum Beispiel auch gegen Tetanus," the Bundesrat stated.

In addition, the reform allows blood draws to monitor medication effects, as well as physician-prescribed preventive measures for diabetes or cardiovascular diseases. "Auch ärztlich verordnete Präventionsmaßnahmen zu Diabetes oder Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen dürfen Apotheken künftig anbieten," the chamber of states said. Early detection examinations for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, as well as services related to smoking, are also planned.

Structural Reform to Counter Pharmacy Closures

In narrowly defined cases, pharmacies will in the future be allowed to dispense certain prescription-only medications without a prescription — for instance, in cases of ongoing medication and acute uncomplicated illnesses. "dass Apotheker bestimmte verschreibungspflichtige Medikamente in dringenden Fällen ohne Rezept ausgeben dürfen, etwa bei Dauermedikation und akuten unkomplizierten Erkrankungen," the Bundesrat explained. A one-time dispensing of the smallest package for self-payment is to be permitted in such cases. Which illnesses qualify as uncomplicated is still to be defined. Medications with a high potential for misuse or dependency are excluded.

The reform also provides for structural relief: where a pharmacist is missing, an experienced pharmaceutical-technical assistant will in the future be able to take over the pharmacy on a trial basis. A job-sharing model is also planned that will allow pharmacists to jointly manage a pharmacy. Taking over a pharmacy as a business is also being facilitated. At the same time, the emergency service flat rate is rising, and a subsidy for partial emergency services is being introduced to counter the rising number of pharmacy closures, especially in rural areas. The so-called Apothekenfixum, a flat-rate remuneration from health insurers for fixed operating costs, is also set to rise.

Electronic Ankle Monitoring in Cases of Domestic Violence

In parallel, the Bundesrat passed the reform of the Protection Against Violence Act, which the Bundestag had already adopted. "Der Bundesrat billigte nun die vom Bundestag schon beschlossene Reform des Gewaltschutzgesetzes, die diese Möglichkeit bundesweit vorsieht." In the future, courts can order perpetrators to wear electronic ankle monitors to better enforce restraining orders. "Gerichte sollen Täter zum Tragen der Fußfessel verpflichten können, um ein Annäherungsverbot durchzusetzen. Kommt der Täter zu nahe, wird das Opfer über ein Empfangsgerät gewarnt." Electronic location monitoring is thereby more clearly regulated and expanded under federal law.

In addition, family courts can order perpetrators, following violent offenses or threats, to participate in social training courses or violence prevention programs. Penalties for violations of protection orders are also being tightened, and courts' access to data from the weapons register is being facilitated. Electronic ankle monitors are already in use today, for instance, to monitor the whereabouts of released sexual offenders; some federal states have also already established rules for their use in domestic violence cases.

Pensions to Rise by 4.24 Percent

On the topic of pensions, the Bundesrat approved the corresponding ordinance of the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs for the annual adjustment. Starting July 1, pensions will rise by 4.24 percent. "Grundlage der Anpassung ist die Entwicklung der Bruttolöhne im vergangenen Jahr, an die die Rentenentwicklung gekoppelt ist." For a standard pension based on average earnings and 45 contribution years, the pension adjustment means a monthly increase of 77.85 euros, according to the Social Ministry. "Eine monatliche Rente von 1.000 Euro steigt damit um gut 42 Euro." There are around 21 million pensioners in Germany.

Regarding the federal government's health cost-saving plans, the initiative was deliberated in the Bundesrat for the first time. The draft law is intended to prevent further increases in contributions. The Health Act does not require the Bundesrat's consent, but the states could delay it by invoking the Mediation Committee. The states take a critical view of many aspects and are calling in a statement for the removal of various cost-saving measures affecting hospitals, medical practices, pharmacies, and the pharmaceutical industry. Bundesrat President Andreas Bovenschulte (SPD), Mayor of Bremen, said on ZDF's "Morgenmagazin" that he expected the states to exert influence on the Health Act.

Reduction of the Air Travel Tax

On the topic of air travel, the Bundesrat cleared plans to reduce the ticket tax. As planned, flight tickets for flights from Germany will be taxed less heavily starting in July. The Bundesrat cleared corresponding plans to lower the ticket tax. Per flight, the levy will decrease by between 2.50 euros and 11.40 euros, depending on the route. Eurowings, for example, had dampened hopes for falling ticket prices: "Andere Kostensteigerungen insbesondere beim Treibstoff überlagerten die Entwicklung," the Lufthansa subsidiary had stated.

Dispute Over Compulsory Schooling and Health Cost-Saving Plans

Another topic was compulsory schooling: Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt, and Hamburg introduced a motion in the Bundesrat aimed at countering efforts to weaken compulsory schooling in Germany. Thuringia's Minister-President Mario Voigt (CDU) said in the Bundesrat: "Die Schulpflicht abzuschaffen, legt die Axt an etwas, was Deutschland über Jahre erfolgreich geprägt hat." The backdrop is demands by the AfD, currently on the campaign trail in Saxony-Anhalt. "Bildungspflicht statt Schulzwang!" it writes in its election manifesto and advocates giving parents a choice between school and home education.

The Bundesrat unanimously approved a draft law on the initiative of North Rhine-Westphalia that bans the trade of personal items belonging to Nazi victims — including documents, letters from concentration camps, diaries, and clothing with Star of David badges or triangles. "Begründet wird das mit dem Schutz des Andenkens und der Würde der Opfer des Nationalismus." Museums, archives, libraries, and research are to be exempt from the trade ban.

Correction note: The wording used by the Bundesrat is "Nationalsozialismus"; the original version contained a typographical error. Museums, archives, libraries, and research are exempt.

The pharmacy reform is part of the black-red legislative agenda and is intended to strengthen the provision of medicines and health services, particularly in rural areas. The additional payments to pharmacies will be borne by the statutory health insurance funds. The report was broadcast on June 12, 2026 on Deutschlandfunk.