Frequently asked questions

Pharmacy ownership

I am buying a ​pharmacy. What am I obliged to report to the NSW Ministry of Health?

A change in pharmacy ownership need only be notified to the NSW Ministry of Health (Pharmaceutical Services) if the pharmacy is a methadone or buprenorphine dosing point under the NSW Opioid Treatment Program and the new owner wishes to continue this.

The new owner should contact Pharmaceutical Services on (02) 9391 9944 (during business hours) at least 7 working days before taking over ownership. If notification is not made, the pharmacy may not be able to obtain methadone or buprenorphine for the Program.

I have sold my pharmacy business and the existing premises are closing. What should I do with the ​pharmacy’s dispensing records, and the Schedule 8 and Schedule 4 Appendix B (anabolic-androgenic steroids) retained repeats and cancelled prescriptions?

All of the pharmacy dispensing records as well as the Schedule 8 and Schedule 4 Appendix B prescriptions remains the responsibility of the pharmacist proprietor of the pharmacy being sold/closed. Schedule 8 and Schedule 4 Appendix B prescriptions must be retained for two years from the date of the last transaction, and be available to an authorised NSW Ministry of Health inspector or a NSW police officer on request. The Schedule 8 and Schedule 4 Appendix B retained prescription repeats should not be cancelled. For information on how to manage these requirements in the particular circumstances of your pharmacy’s closure, contact the Duty Pharmaceutical Officer at Pharmaceutical Services during business hours on (02) 9391 9944.

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There’s been an emergency and I need to temporarily close my pharmacy. What do I do with outstanding deliveries, prescriptions, and dispensed but uncollected medicines?

Pharmacists and business managers must comply with regulations with regards to supply and storage of medicines. If emergency locum options are not applicable for your emergency and closure of the pharmacy is the only option, communication should aim to advise customers of the closure period and their options in getting their medicines dispensed. 

Although it is otherwise illegal for anyone to take or supply anything from a pharmacy in the absence of a pharmacist, a non-pharmacist staff member could, if applicable and on the direction of the pharmacist, take possession of the prescriptions and repeats (other than S8 and S4B) which had been left at the pharmacy for safekeeping/convenience, then:
  • take the prescriptions to a different pharmacy, advising patients to phone that other pharmacy if a medication is required
  • deliver the prescriptions/repeats to the patient's address for the patient to organise the dispensing at another pharmacy
  • offer a courier/delivery service taking the prescription/repeats to another pharmacy (perhaps in the next town) to have the medication dispensed and then delivered to the customer. Note, in the case of S8 and S4B (androgenic anabolic steroid) original and repeat prescriptions, these must remain on the premises of the pharmacy which first dispensed them. If a patient requires a further supply whilst the pharmacy is closed, another pharmacy will require a new prescription.
  • take possession of dispensed (non-S8) medicines then deliver them directly to the patient.
Current as at: Tuesday 18 October 2022
Contact page owner: Pharmaceutical Services