antares pharmacy (antares-apotheke Pharma Service e. K.) in Hamburg-Jenfeld prepares patient-specific medication blister packs: solid oral medicines are repackaged into sealed, labelled pouches for each administration time. Before packaging, pharmacists review the medication list; afterwards, every pouch is checked by a camera-based system and by trained staff.
antares supplies care homes, home care services, hospitals and private patients in Hamburg and the six neighbouring districts. Blister packaging does not replace the doctor's prescription or the checks and administration by nursing staff.
This page summarises our German-language platform in English. Consultations, contracts and forms at antares are generally in German. If you would like support in English, please ask – whether this is possible depends on staff availability.
Blister packaging at antares: the key facts
| Topic | Fact |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy | antares-apotheke Pharma Service e. K., Kuehnstraße 75, 22045 Hamburg (Jenfeld, borough of Wandsbek); owner: pharmacist Lennart Hintz. |
| Service | antares repackages solid oral medicines for individual patients into sealed, non-reusable pouches (patientenindividuelle Verblisterung, § 1a and § 34 ApBetrO). |
| Formats | Multi-dose pouches hold all solid medicines for one administration time; the antares blister machine can also produce pouches with one medicine each. The format is agreed with each client. |
| Quality checks | Pharmaceutical review, barcode scan of every original pack, camera-based inspection of every pouch and review by trained staff in a separate blister packaging room in Hamburg-Jenfeld. |
| Quality management | The quality management system of antares pharmacy is certified to DIN ISO 9001:2015; there is no separate certificate for blister packaging. |
| Care homes | Care homes are supplied under an officially approved care home supply contract (Heimversorgungsvertrag, § 12a ApoG). |
| Service area | For care homes: Hamburg and the districts of Pinneberg, Segeberg, Stormarn, Herzogtum Lauenburg, Harburg and Stade – not the district of Lüneburg. |
| Costs | Blister packaging is not a benefit of German statutory health insurance; fees are agreed individually. Medicines are billed on prescription as usual. |
What does antares do for care providers and patients?
A pharmaceutical check, careful production and delivery – from one pharmacy.
Patient-specific blister packaging
Each pouch shows the patient's name, date and time of administration, the medicines with batch numbers, expiry information and the pharmacy. Package leaflets are supplied.
Only suitable solid oral medicines can be blistered (see FAQ).
Pharmaceutical review
Pharmacists check each medication list for plausibility, interactions, duplicate prescriptions and suitability for blister packaging, and clarify questions with the prescriber.
The doctor decides on the therapy; the review supports, but does not replace, medical judgement.
Delivery and logistics
antares has its own warehouse with automated picking and its own delivery vehicles. Blister packs for care settings are usually prepared for one week at a time.
Delivery days, cut-off times and response times are agreed in the supply contract.
How does blister packaging work at antares?
Medication list and prescriptions
One valid medication list per patient plus the doctors' prescriptions, usually e-prescriptions.
Pharmaceutical review
Pharmacists check the list; only reviewed orders go into production.
Preparation
Original packs are scanned; staff in protective clothing fill tablets into numbered trays.
Packaging and inspection
The machine seals the medicines into a printed pouch strip. A camera checks every pouch; staff review the results on screen.
Delivery and changes
Delivery as agreed. If a doctor changes the medication, affected pouches are replaced, never opened or refilled.
Who can use blister packaging from antares?
Blister packaging suits people who take several solid medicines at fixed times and whose medication rarely changes.
Care homes
Weekly blister packs and pharmaceutical review under a care home supply contract.
Read more (in German)Home care services
Blister packs for clients at home, based on each client's free choice of pharmacy.
Read more (in German)Hospitals
Supply under § 14 ApoG, including blister packaging in a closed-loop medication process.
Read more (in German)Private patients and families
For people at home with many tablets and relatives who fill pill organisers every week.
Read more (in German)Less suitable: frequently changing medication, or when most medicines cannot be blistered. See suitable medicines (in German) and a hospital example: LungenClinic Großhansdorf (in German).
What are the legal rules in Germany?
For orientation only; this is not legal advice.
- Care home supply contract. A pharmacy may supply care home residents only under a written care home supply contract (Heimversorgungsvertrag, § 12a Apothekengesetz – ApoG) between pharmacy owner and care home operator. It takes effect only once the competent authority has approved it.
- Neighbouring-district rule. Pharmacy and care home must be in the same district or independent city, or in neighbouring ones (§ 12a para. 1 ApoG). For antares, this means Hamburg and the six districts bordering Hamburg.
- Free choice of pharmacy. Patients choose their pharmacy freely (freie Apothekenwahl); a care home contract must not be exclusive, and doctors may not steer prescriptions to a pharmacy (§ 11 ApoG). Since July 2026, doctors may, by arrangement, send residents' prescriptions directly to the contract pharmacy (§ 12a para. 4 ApoG, until the end of 2028).
- Not covered by statutory health insurance. Blister packaging is not a benefit of statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV). The fee is agreed with the care home or paid privately; medicines are billed on prescription with the statutory co-payment (Zuzahlung). See costs (in German).
- Pharmacy requirements. The Pharmacy Operations Ordinance (Apothekenbetriebsordnung – ApBetrO, § 34) requires, among other things, a separate room used only for blistering, rules on suitable medicines, hygiene and staff training, and full labelling. Hospitals are supplied under § 14 ApoG.
Care home supply contract · Legal framework · Changing a care home's pharmacy
Which regions does antares serve?
For care homes, the neighbouring-district rule applies. All blister packs are produced in Hamburg-Jenfeld.
Hamburg
All seven boroughs.
Kreis Pinneberg
West of Hamburg (Schleswig-Holstein).
Kreis Segeberg
North of Hamburg (Schleswig-Holstein).
Kreis Stormarn
East of Hamburg (Schleswig-Holstein).
Kreis Herzogtum Lauenburg
East of Hamburg (Schleswig-Holstein).
Landkreis Harburg
South of Hamburg (Lower Saxony).
Landkreis Stade
South-west of Hamburg (Lower Saxony).
The district of Lüneburg does not border Hamburg, so a care home supply contract with antares in Hamburg-Jenfeld cannot be approved there. For patients at home this rule does not apply; delivery is clarified individually. Overview: service regions (in German).
What remains the responsibility of doctors and nursing staff?
| Task | Responsible |
|---|---|
| Choice of medicine, dose and timing | Prescribing doctor |
| Passing on medication changes | Care provider, without delay |
| Review, packaging, labelling, inspection | Pharmacy |
| Checking each pouch against the current medication list | Nursing staff, before every administration |
| Administration, observation, documentation | Nursing staff |
| Medicines outside the blister pack | Nursing staff, from the original packs |
Frequently asked questions
Can I get advice from antares in English?
Consultations, contracts and forms at antares are generally in German. If you need support in English, please ask when you contact us; whether an English-speaking colleague is available depends on staffing.
Does German statutory health insurance pay for blister packaging?
No. Blister packaging is not a statutory health insurance (GKV) benefit. The fee is agreed with the care home or paid privately; the medicines are billed on prescription as usual.
Can antares supply a care home outside Hamburg?
Yes, in the six districts bordering Hamburg: Pinneberg, Segeberg, Stormarn, Herzogtum Lauenburg, Harburg and Stade. The care home supply contract (§ 12a ApoG) must be approved before supply starts. The district of Lüneburg is not possible.
Does a care home resident have to use antares?
No. German law protects the free choice of pharmacy. Residents may obtain their medicines elsewhere themselves or through relatives; a care home contract must not be exclusive.
Which medicines cannot be blister-packed?
As a rule: drops, liquids, inhalers, patches, injections, refrigerated products, many effervescent and orodispersible tablets and as-needed medication. They are supplied in their original packs.
Does blister packaging replace checks by nursing staff?
No. Before each administration, nursing staff compare the pouch with the current medication list. If the medication changed after the pouches were produced, only this check can detect it.
Whom should I contact at antares?
Calling from outside Germany? Dial +49 and omit the leading 0.
Sinah Gaebert
Pharmacist, specialist in clinical pharmacy, head of patient-specific blister packaging. For care homes and general questions.
Insa Goll
Pharmacist, specialist in clinical pharmacy, head of hospital supply. For hospitals, unit-dose and closed-loop processes.
Marta Bend, MBA
Pharmacist, head of outpatient care and key accounts. For home care services, private patients and families (Mon–Thu 8:00–18:30, Fri 8:00–18:00).
Use the enquiry form only for contact details and your general topic; we will agree a secure way to exchange patient information. Address: antares Apotheke, Kuehnstraße 75, 22045 Hamburg, Germany.
Talk to us about your care home, service or hospital
In a first conversation we clarify whether blister packaging suits your setting and which legal requirements apply. The enquiry form is in German; your name, organisation and phone number are enough.
Key pages on our German platform
- Overview: blister packaging at antares (in German)
- What is blister packaging? (in German)
- Facts at a glance (in German)
- Our specialist team (in German)
- Switching to blister packaging (in German)
