Proposed Regulatory Fees and Licensing Framework for Pharmacy Ownership in Queensland
On 3 May 2018, Queensland Parliament referred an inquiry into the establishment of a pharmacy council and transfer for pharmacy ownership in Queensland (inquiry) to the Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee (committee). The committee's Report No. 12, 56th Parliament - Inquiry into the establishment of a pharmacy council and transfer of pharmacy ownership in Queensland (the committee report) was tabled in Parliament on 16 October 2018. The Committee made 11 recommendations relating to the establishment of a pharmacy council, regulation of pharmacy ownership, changes to ownership legislation and improved transparency of compliance outcomes in the pharmacy industry.
The government response to the committee’s report, accepted in full or in principle all recommendations.
The Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement (Consultation RIS) (PDF 955 kB) discusses whether to:
- establish a new licensing framework to monitor, and where necessary, enforce compliance with the ownership requirements in the PBO Act;
- prescribe licensing fees as part of the new licensing framework;
- prescribe a fee to fund the Queensland Pharmacy Council (Council) as an advisory body to provide advice to the Deputy Premier, Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services (the Deputy Premier) and Queensland Health about the administration and enforcement of compliance with the PBO Act, and to make recommendations to Queensland Health about the transfers of pharmacy businesses, as required; and
- publish a register containing information about the ownership and location of pharmacy businesses.
Queensland Health is undertaking this assessment and public consultation on behalf of the Queensland Government. The Consultation RIS provides an overview of proposed options to address the committee’s recommendations and outlines some potential regulatory reform options for feedback.
The public consultation period closed on the 6th November 2020. We would like to thank all members of the public for providing submissions.