Find a pharmacy in Achern
Achern is a mid-sized town of roughly 25,000 residents in the Ortenaukreis district of Baden-Württemberg, sitting on the western edge of the Black Forest between Offenburg and Baden-Baden. PillsCard lists five verified pharmacies here, a density consistent with the German federal average of about one Apotheke per 3,800 inhabitants. The pharmacies serve a mixed catchment: long-standing residents, commuters working in nearby Offenburg and Strasbourg, and seasonal visitors heading into the Achertal valley or the Black Forest National Park. The town's proximity to the French border — Strasbourg is roughly 30 km west — means staff are frequently asked about cross-border prescription recognition, particularly for travellers carrying ordonnances from French physicians who need a German equivalent dispensed under the EU cross-border directive.
The local market is fragmented and owner-operated, in keeping with German pharmacy law that prohibits chain ownership above four branches per proprietor. The Stadt-Apotheke and Apotheke am Rathaus anchor the historic centre around Hauptstraße and the Rathausplatz, handling most walk-in and prescription traffic from the town's administrative core. The Antonius Apotheke serves residents nearer the parish church and the eastern residential streets, while the Apotheke am Stadtgarten draws patients from the southern district close to the park and rail station. The Apotheke im Scheck-In operates inside the Scheck-In Center retail complex, catering to grocery shoppers and offering extended weekday hours. None of the listed pharmacies are formally affiliated with the Ortenau Klinikum hospital network, but most maintain working referral relationships with local GPs.
Pricing & coverage
Prescription medicines dispensed under a GKV (statutory) prescription carry a standard co-payment of 5–10 EUR per item, capped at 2% of annual gross household income (1% for chronic patients). Over-the-counter analgesics typically run 4–8 EUR, common antibiotics 12–25 EUR at full private price, and a standard influenza vaccination administered in-pharmacy costs 15–25 EUR, reimbursable for eligible patients. PKV (private insurance) members generally pay upfront and claim back according to their tariff. Pricing of prescription medicines is regulated nationally under the Arzneimittelpreisverordnung and supervised by BfArM, so costs do not vary between Achern pharmacies.
Emergencies & out-of-hours care
Outside standard opening hours, Achern participates in the Notdienst rota coordinated by the Landesapothekerkammer Baden-Württemberg, in which one local Apotheke is on duty 24 hours on a rotating basis. The current duty pharmacy is posted in each shop window and at aponet.de. For acute medical emergencies, the nearest hospital is the Ortenau Klinikum Achern-Oberkirch on Krankenhausstraße, which operates a 24-hour Notaufnahme. Dial 112 for life-threatening situations requiring an ambulance or paramedic; for non-urgent after-hours medical advice, the nationwide on-call number 116 117 connects to the Kassenärztlicher Bereitschaftsdienst.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a French prescription filled in Achern? Yes, under EU Directive 2011/24/EU pharmacies in Achern will dispense a valid prescription issued by a physician in another EU member state, provided it contains the prescriber's full credentials, the patient's name and date of birth, and the medicine's international non-proprietary name. French ordonnances are routinely accepted given Strasbourg's proximity. Controlled substances such as opioids require a special cross-border form (the EU prescription template) rather than a standard French ordonnance, and reimbursement under GKV is not automatic — most cross-border patients pay privately and reclaim through their home insurer.
Is there a night pharmacy that's always open in Achern? No single pharmacy in Achern stays open 24/7. The five listed pharmacies share a rotating Notdienst duty, meaning one is available overnight on any given date. The duty roster is published daily; check the window notice of any Achern Apotheke or use the aponet.de finder. During Notdienst hours, an emergency surcharge of 2.50 EUR per prescription applies, set nationally.
Do Achern pharmacies offer vaccinations? Since 2022 German pharmacies have been permitted to administer influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations to adults, and several Achern Apotheken participate. Pharmacists must complete a certified training module, so availability varies by location — call ahead. Travel vaccinations and routine childhood immunisations remain the responsibility of GPs and the Gesundheitsamt Ortenaukreis in Offenburg.
Can tourists buy common medicines without a prescription? Yes for OTC products such as ibuprofen, paracetamol, antihistamines, and basic wound care, though German law keeps many medicines behind the counter that are freely available in other countries. Pharmacist consultation is mandatory before purchase. Anything stronger — including codeine combinations and most antibiotics — requires a prescription from a German or recognised EU physician.
Safety note
This directory is informational only and is not medical advice. Patients should consult a licensed pharmacy or physician for individual clinical decisions, dosage queries, and interaction checks.