PHARMACY location rules will be protected beyond 2020 under the provisions of legislation tabled in Federal Parliament late last week.
The explanatory statement for the National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits - Budget and Other Measures) Bill 2017 says it will "remove provisions that would otherwise cease the operation of the Australian Community Pharmacy Authority and the pharmacy location rules on 30 June 2020 (that is, removing the sunset clauses)".
The proposed amendments would implement undertakings in the compact agreed by the government with the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, which forms part of the PBS Medicines Package announced along with the 2017-18 budget.
Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison unveiled the move along with the budget (PD 09 May), promising the government would "ensure the ongoing legislative basis for Pharmacy Location Rules" in order to give pharmacy owners ongoing confidence that approval to supply pharmaceutical benefits at particular premises will continue to be regulated.
Unless the legislation is passed by Parliament the existing functions and operations of the Australian Community Pharmacy Authority and pharmacy location rules will lapse on 30 Jun 2020.
Other measures enshrined in the bill tabled last week included measures around statutory PBS price reductions, achieving "significant savings while providing five years of clarity and stability for the medicines supply sector".
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