After the vaccination chaos, Germany is also facing the next debacle when it comes to “free rapid tests in pharmacies”. Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) announced the start of the campaign for March 1, 2021. Nothing will come of this now, because Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) personally pulled the brakes.

"Free" rapid tests will be possible in selected pharmacies from March 8, 2021 at the earliest. There are problems on various fronts, because the state wants to pay the pharmacists only nine euros per test carried out - including material costs. However, the pharmacists are of the opinion that cost recovery is impossible.

Now there is even a "personal contribution" of one euro per test up for debate. If this variant is implemented, there are no "free tests". The number of pharmacies that currently offer chargeable tests is negligibly small in a direct comparison with Austria. The measly fee of nine euros should not exactly mean that the pharmacists' interest in carrying out the costly sideline activity will increase. The neighboring country Austria pays the pharmacies 25 euros per test carried out, whereby the material costs can be billed separately. Doctors even receive 50 euros for each smear taken on people with symptoms.

Federal Republic stumbles over its own bureaucracy

In Germany, however, it is not just about money, but various country bosses are already suggesting that there are not enough rapid antigen tests available for the expected onslaught. Again it is pointed out that the capacities in the old people's homes would be better off. In many places, however, not a single test has been carried out to date. The list of excuses is varied.

But Germany also stumbles over the bureaucracy, because only one achieved enlightenment and discovered that many planned rapid test kits have no approval at all in the Federal Republic. It is noteworthy in this context that Austria is portrayed in the German media as a real model student when it comes to approvals and rapid tests. In the area of ​​PCR, it is required in Germany that the gurgle tests developed in the Alpine republic are finally used across the board. A certain "star virologist" still spoke badly in autumn 2020. The conclusion from the “rapid test debacle”, which is simple for the German population, is simple: Just like in Austria, announcements by the government should be treated with caution, because the statements made by politicians no longer have to be valid the day after. The Kurz government did this repeatedly, for example in the case of the "Anti-Christmas Entry Ordinance". This has even been tightened several times.