The Pharmacy Location Rules

Table of contents

Requirements of the Pharmacy Location Rules

The pharmacy location rules are divided into two general types - the relocation of an existing approval and the establishment of a new pharmacy approval.

Relocating an existing approval

A pharmacist will need an existing pharmacy approval in order to relocate an existing approval - either their own approval or, by agreement, another pharmacist’s approval.

A existing pharmacy is ‘relocated’ by cancelling the existing approval for the purpose of having another approval granted in respect of another site. An application for a relocation must therefore demonstrate that either the applicant or another pharmacist has requested that their approval be cancelled immediately before the approval under consideration is granted.

There are several provisions in the pharmacy location rules for relocating an existing pharmacy approval:

Rule 101: Relocation within shopping centre or private hospital

Rule 102: Relocation within rural locality

Rule 103: Expansion or contraction

Rule 104: Short distance relocation (up to 1 km)

Rule 105: Short distance relocation (between 1 km and 1.5 km)

Rule 106: Long distance relocation

Rule 107: Relocation to rural locality (additional pharmacy)

Rule 108: Relocation to urban locality (additional pharmacy)

Rule 109: Relocation to small shopping centre

Rule 110: Relocation to large shopping centre

Rule 111: Relocation to private hospital

Rule 112: Relocation to large medical centre

If a pharmacist is seeking to relocate an existing pharmacy approval, he/she must decide which rule is most appropriate to their circumstances.

Top of page

Establishing a new approval

A pharmacist does not require an existing pharmacy approval in order to obtain a new approval. There are two provisions in the pharmacy location rules for establishing a new approval:

Rule 113: New pharmacy (urban locality)

Rule 114: New pharmacy (rural locality)

If a pharmacist is seeking to establish a new pharmacy approval, he/she must decide which rule is more according to the location of the proposed premises.

Individual requirements

The following section is set out in two parts:

Part 1 deals with each individual rule. Each page sets out the policy intent for that rule, the requirements associated for an application made under that rule and any restrictions associated with an approval granted under that rule.

Part 2 provides information on the requirements and the types of evidence which might be provided to demonstrate that the requirements are met. It also provides cross-references to the relevant provisions of the pharmacy location rules.

| TOC |next page