Pharmacy ownership in Queensland
Pharmacy business ownership in Queensland is regulated under the Pharmacy Business Ownership Act 2001 (the Act). The objects of the Act are to promote the professional, safe and competent provision of pharmacy services and to maintain public confidence in the pharmacy profession.
This is achieved by limiting who can own pharmacy businesses, the number of pharmacy businesses a person can own and the monitoring and enforcement of compliance with the Act.
What is a pharmacy business?
Most community pharmacies are regulated under the Act, while pharmacies in hospitals that only provide services to patients of the hospital are generally excluded. The Act defines a pharmacy business as:
(a) a business providing pharmacy services; but
(b) does not include—
(i) a business operated by the State at a public sector hospital; or
(ii) another business at a hospital that provides pharmacy services only to patients at the hospital.
Licensing and approvals
Pharmacy businesses are not licensed, approved, registered or otherwise endorsed by the department under the Act. However, pharmacists (including owners) must operate the pharmacy business in compliance with the Act and all other relevant legislation and professional standards.
Pharmacy business owners are required to notify the department within 21 days of a change of ownership or change of pharmacy business details. Read more on changing ownership or business details.
Register of pharmacy businesses
Currently, a public list or register of pharmacy businesses is unavailable in Queensland.
Our service finder may assist you in locating a pharmacy or health service provider.
Depending on the reason for a request; you may be able to make a Right to Information request.
Complaints about pharmacy businesses
Pharmacy businesses and their operations are regulated by state and federal agencies. If you are considering making a complaint about a pharmacy business or pharmacy business owner, the table below may assist you in identifying which agency is most appropriate to accept your complaint.
| Complaint type, topic or reason | Contact |
|---|---|
If you are a health practitioner, employer or educator that employs or trains health practitioners and you have a complaint in relation to a health practitioner you may have obligations under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Queensland). You should contact the Queensland Health Ombudsman. | Office of the Health Ombudsman |
| Complaints about health services provided by pharmacist or pharmacy | |
| Complaints about unregistered health practitioners | |
| Complaints regarding the customer service or consumer complaints which may include: refunds, billing or unfair business practices | Office of Fair Trading |
Complaint regarding the advertising of therapeutic goods to the public OR Report an adverse event involving medicines, vaccines or medical devices. | Therapeutic Goods Administration |
| Complaint about the Department's services | Compliments and complaints about Department of Health services |
|
Complaints about a Hospital and Health service e.g. public hospitals in Queensland | Complaints and compliments about health services |
| Complaints regarding the premises of a pharmacy business. | Contact the local Public Health Unit |
If your complaint relates to the compliance of pharmacy businesses or pharmacy business owners in Queensland, you can contact the Department's Pharmacy Business Ownership team at pharmacyownership@health.qld.gov.au.