Pharmacy Regulation - Business Licensing and Ownership Restrictions
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. The submissions closed on 14 August 2009. The paper has been prepared with the input of the Pharmacy Board of Victoria (the Board) and was released for consultation in the context of the move to the national registration and accreditation scheme for health professionals (the national scheme).
Victorian Pharmacy Authority (Size: 478 Kb)
On 28 March 2008 the Council of Australian Governments signed an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) committing the States, Territories and the Commonwealth to establish the national scheme. The new system will for the first time create a single national registration and accreditation system for ten health professions, including pharmacy. The new scheme is due to commence 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'.
Health Ministers are in agreement that the regulation of pharmacy premises will remain separate from the national scheme. The Victorian Minister, the Hon Daniel Andrews MP agrees that it is important that State and Territory governments continue to oversee the arrangements for inspection and ownership of pharmacy premises.
The model proposed in this paper provides for a smooth continuation of these functions in the transition to the national scheme and has been developed on the principle that there is minimum change from the current provisions in the Health Professions Registration Act 2005 ('the HPR Act'). Features of the proposed model include:
- A 'Victorian Pharmacy Authority', 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 department is in the process of considering submissions received in response to the report. It is the department's intention that necessary amendments be made to the HPR Act as part of the legislation to establish the national scheme in Victoria. It is expected that this process will be finalised in early 2010. The final model will need to be in place to commence on 1 July 2010 at the same time that the national scheme commences. Further updates will be available on this page.
Further information on this review is available from:
Mr Dan Harvey
Senior Policy Officer
Service and Workforce Planning
Portfolio Services and Strategic Projects
Tel: (03) 9096 8863
Fax: (03) 9096 9213
Email: daniel.harvey@dhs.vic.gov.au
Or
Ms Valentina Tankov
Project Coordinator
Service and Workforce Planning
Portfolio Services and Strategic Projects
Tel: (03) 9096 6982
Fax: (03) 9096 9213
Email: valentina.tankov@dhs.vic.gov.au
Submissions
The list of organisations/individuals and their submissions to the review are set out below.