Research projects

Ensuring equitable access to pharmaceutical services is an essential component of public health and territorial cohesion, particularly in regions where healthcare infrastructure is becoming increasingly sparse. This project examines the spatial structure of the pharmacy network in Germany to better understand how the geographic distribution of pharmacies relates to the populations they serve. By providing a systematic assessment of spatial service patterns, the study contributes to evidence-based discussions on healthcare accessibility and supports informed decision-making on the future organization of pharmaceutical services. The study applies a spatial analytical framework based on geospatial data from multiple sources, integrating information on pharmacy locations, transportation networks, and population distribution. Using geographic information systems (GIS), the project combines network-based accessibility analyses with population data to delineate service areas, identify spatial patterns within the pharmacy network, and assess the demographic context of these areas. The methodology emphasizes standardized data preparation, reproducible analytical workflows, and the production of cartographic and statistical outputs that facilitate comparisons across regions while providing a transparent basis for evaluating spatial service structures.