In addition to the emergency precautions that every pharmacy should take, there is also the question of whether damage caused by a power outage can be insured. The DAZ asked insurance broker Steffen Bennecke, who specializes in pharmacies.
DAZ: Is the interruption of business after a power outage insured?
Bennecke: Business interruption following insured material damage is regularly insured. A power outage is not property damage. The consequent interruption of the activity is therefore not insured. If the power outage causes property damage that justifies the business interruption, such as water damage, this may differ depending on your insurance contract. However, some insurers exclude power failure as a contributing cause in the “unnamed risks” form.
Is the deterioration of drugs insured in the event of a refrigerator failure?
This is ensured with the relevant clause. Most pharmacies will find this clause in their insurance contract. The failure of the public electricity grid is usually the minimum insured against risks. The best clauses insure against any unexpected failure or power outage. The maximum applicable compensation varies widely. We comply with regulations between 3,000 and 100,000 euros as a sub-limit for the deterioration of medicines in the refrigerator. The amounts insured often do not reflect the values that can actually be found in the refrigerator. This is mainly due to the fact that insurance contracts in pharmacies are rarely updated. Some still have the contract that the predecessor’s predecessor had once concluded. Because “he was always satisfied.” If the sums tend to be higher, a distinction can also be made between DIN and non-DIN refrigerators.
How are e-prescriptions insured?
With the classic furniture insurance against fire and other hazards, the loss of the prescription can also be insured by clause. If not limited, this also applies to e-prescriptions. Some insurers specify in the clause that this also applies to prescriptions that are stored on computer media. This clause establishes that the loss of prescription due to damage to insured property is also covered. Insured property damage is mainly caused by fire, water pipes or burglary. Power outages are usually not included (see question 1). Again, different compensation limits apply depending on the insurer or agreement.
