Pharmaceutical services need practical implementation
The pDL dialogue announced for expopharm on 16 September 2026 brings together patient, pharmacy and physician perspectives. Within a pharmacy, professional expertise also needs to become an accessible service. This article concerns pharmaceutical services, known as pDL, prevention and vaccination in the German healthcare system.
Start with a service that fits your pharmacy
Established pDL address blood pressure, inhaler technique and medicines management for patients with multiple medicines, oral cancer therapy or a history of organ transplantation. Choose according to patient groups, staff qualifications, consultation space and reliably available time.
Vaccination and assisted telemedicine should be planned as distinct services with their own requirements, records and reimbursement arrangements. Assess the operational status of new reform-related prevention services before advertising them or treating their income as certain.
Record the full workload when assessing viability
Costing should include patient engagement, eligibility checks, preparation, delivery, records, follow-up and billing. Materials, premises, software and training add further costs. The reimbursement amount alone therefore does not establish whether a service is viable.
A practical calculation: revenue per completed, billable service less directly attributable staffing and material costs gives its contribution towards other costs. Also consider the room and team capacity it occupies. Include cancellations and unsettled claims when comparing planned with realised revenue.
Connect vaccination appointments, supplies and quality
Vaccination needs a coordinated approach to qualifications, premises, hygiene, patient information, records and emergency preparedness. Check current requirements and billing documents before starting. The German pharmacy vaccination resources provide a professional starting point.
Document responsibilities and standard operating procedures (SOPs) in the quality management system (QMS). Procurement, stock levels and temperature monitoring need to match the actual appointment schedule. Excess stock ties up funds, while missing supplies interrupt the service.
From a pilot to a dependable pharmacy service
- Select one service and define the relevant patient group.
- Confirm qualifications, responsibilities and cover arrangements.
- Practise patient engagement, booking and documentation.
- Start with limited appointment sessions and record actual workload.
- Review demand, completed services, billing quality and financial contribution.
Explain clearly who the service is for, what happens during an appointment and which documents patients should bring. A clear description needs to be supported by appointments that are reliably available.
tiger.PHARMA supports service development and organisation
tiger.PHARMA helps pharmacies introduce additional services through commercial and organisational consulting. Relevant services include vaccination hubs, pharmacy QMS and liquidity and investment planning. We connect service selection, workflows, responsibilities and performance review.
Assisted telemedicine can be assessed as a complementary route into care within our pharmacy-owner consulting. Groups can extend suitable workflows after a pilot location has been evaluated. Discuss your pharmacy service development.
FAQ: practical pharmacy questions
Are vaccination and assisted telemedicine the same as pDL?
No. Organise them as separate service areas under their respective eligibility, workflow and billing requirements.
How can a pharmacy assess whether a service is viable?
Review actual demand, completed billable services and the associated time and material costs. Also consider patient benefit and available capacity.
More articles in this series
- German pharmacy reform 2026: turning policy into an operating plan
- German wholesale terms 2026: HSA, KSA and Rx cash discounts under review
Background and review date
Background on this topic. Reviewed: 5 September 2026. Analysis and implementation recommendations by tiger.PHARMA.