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Frankfurt / Main (dpa / lhe) - The State Chamber of Pharmacists in Hesse warns of chaotic conditions when issuing free FFP2 masks to high-risk patients.

"This is a huge task that we have to master," said chairwoman Ursula Funke on Monday.

The pharmacies bore the entrepreneurial risk when buying the masks for stock and initially made advance payments.

"We can only issue the masks when the regulation comes into force," said Funke, who owns a pharmacy in Wiesbaden.

The "Wiesbadener Kurier" had initially reported.

The Federal Ministry of Health's draft bill stipulates that people over the age of 60 and people with certain chronic diseases should receive three of the protective mouth and nose covers free of charge in pharmacies in December.

More masks are to be issued from January.

According to Ursula Funke, pharmacies are faced with a major challenge not only in purchasing, but also in handing out the masks.

Colleagues were looking for a sensible solution, whether for example “at the door, through the window or in the courtyard”.

Whether patients are entitled, they must either "credibly insure" or provide proof of identity.

"It's going to be completely chaotic," said Funke.

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The pharmacist warned the patients “not to come to the pharmacy on Wednesday or Thursday” to get masks, and to keep their distance and cover their mouth and nose.

The FFP2 masks would only be issued during normal opening hours and not during night or emergency duty.

Draft bill