Pharmacy Regulation - Business Licensing and Ownership Restrictions

• Consultation paper
• Outcome of consultation paper
• Appointments to board of the Victorian Pharmacy Authority

Consultation paper

On 28 March 2008 the Council of Australian Governments signed an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) committing the States, Territories and the Commonwealth to establish a single national registration and accreditation scheme (the national scheme) for health professionals, including pharmacists. The national scheme commenced on 1 July 2010.

Section 1.33 of Attachment A of the IGA to establish the national scheme states that 'This agreement does not cover the licensing of pharmacy businesses and pharmacy ownership restrictions. These matters will continue to be the responsibility of states and territories'.

In July 2009, the Department invited submissions from interested parties on a consultation paper regarding future arrangements for the regulation of ownership and operation of pharmacies in Victoria. Submissions closed on 14 August 2009.

 Victorian Pharmacy Authority (Size: 478 Kb)

The model proposed in the paper provided for a smooth continuation of these functions in the transition to the national scheme and was developed on the principle that there is minimum change from the provisions in the Health Professions Registration Act 2005 ('the HPR Act'). Features of the proposed model include:

• A 'Victorian Pharmacy Authority' (VPA), an independent statutory authority responsible to the Minister for Health providing controls over who may own and operate pharmacies and pharmacy departments and provide standards for their inspection.
• A self funding model with the costs borne by persons who own pharmacies, pharmacy departments or pharmacy depots.
• Transparent and accountable governance arrangements, including annual reporting, oversight by a management committee comprising statutory appointees and necessary rights and powers in respect of inspection and investigation without a warrant.
• A model where the local Victorian Pharmacy Authority would work closely with the Pharmacy Board of Australia regarding national standards for approval of premises and pharmacy departments and referral of issues to the national Pharmacy Board that relate to the conduct or health of a registered pharmacist.

The list of organisations/individuals and their submissions to the consultation paper are set out below. 
 

Outcome of consultation paper

On 22 June 2010, a Bill, the Pharmacy Regulation Bill 2010, to establish the Victorian Pharmacy Authority (VPA) and provide for the future regulation of pharmacies passed the Victorian Parliament. The VPA would take over the role of regulating pharmacies previously performed by the Pharmacy Board of Victoria under the HPR Act.

Appointments to the board of the Victorian Pharmacy Authority

In May 2010, the Minister for Health, the Hon Daniel Andrews, MP, invited applications from individuals interested in being appointed to the board of the Victorian Pharmacy Authority (VPA).

The VPA will have a five-member board comprising of three registered pharmacists, a lawyer and a member of the community who is not a registered pharmacist (community member).

Terms of appointment are generally for three years. The Governor in Council makes all appointments to positions on the recommendation of the Minister for Health.

Applications have now closed. Appointments to the board of the VPA are expected to be finalised by August 2010.