Medizin: Drogeriemarktkette dm plant neues Dienstleistungsangebot für die Herz-Kreislauf-Vorsorge

Since last year, German drugstore chain dm has been testing two additions to its business model: in summer 2025, it began offering various health services in select Karlsruhe drugstores, providing skin, eye, and blood tests for preventive care. Later in December 2025, dm opened its online pharmacy, allowing customers to purchase over-the-counter medications like pain relievers via the dm website.

These expansions sparked controversy, with the Competition Center, a self-appointed watchdog of German industry based in Bad Homburg, filing multiple lawsuits. One case in Karlsruhe challenges dm's eye screening, questioning whether it falls under the exclusive domain of doctors, heath practitioners, or opticians. Another lawsuit, filed in Düsseldorf, targets dm's new online pharmacy, accusing it of violating core pharmaceutical and pharmacy laws. dm's marketing and procurement leader, Sebastian Bayer, stated that the company is not seeking an out-of-court settlement in either case, emphasizing its commitment to legal certainty.

Despite the legal challenges, dm remains firm on its health services, planning to expand the eye screening service to around 30 markets, primarily in areas with weak ophthalmology structures, and potentially adding a cardiovascular service by year-end. The cardiovascular service, which will involve innovative health cabins, aims to check vital signs and parameters without the need for disrobing, using non-invasive sensors. dm plans to partner with startup companies for these services.

While dm won't disclose which partner will provide the health cabins, the company is confident about the cardiovascular service's launch this year, given the high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in Germany and their burden on the healthcare system.