What you need to know
If you are an approved pharmacist and you need to close your pharmacy temporarily, you must request deactivation in writing before ceasing supply of pharmaceutical benefits.
‘Deactivate’ is an administrative term used to describe situations where PBS approval is temporarily deactivated when it might otherwise be cancelled – it is not a term defined in the National Health Act 1953. You cannot dispense scripts for PBS medicines while your approval is deactivated.
Closure of a pharmacy without first seeking our approval for deactivation may result in our cancelling your approval to supply PBS medicines at your premises.
When we consider a request for deactivation, we will consider all relevant circumstances, including:
- the need for the community to have access to PBS medicines
- the period of deactivation
- the reason for deactivation.
The continuing commercial viability of a pharmacy is generally not a relevant consideration when deciding whether to grant a deactivation.
Circumstances for deactivation
We will consider a request to deactivate an approval for a short, specified period in the following circumstances.
1. There is no proposed change in the approved pharmacist or the location of the pharmacy
Where:
- You need to close the pharmacy for compelling personal reasons – such as illness, and you cannot obtain the services of a locum pharmacist.
- You are unable to open the pharmacy for reasons which are beyond your control – such us urgent repairs or unexpected damage.
2. There is a proposed change in the approved pharmacist and no proposed change in the location of the pharmacy
Where you have entered into a contract for the sale, transfer or disposal of the pharmacy at its current location and you are unable to open the pharmacy for reasons beyond your control until the transfer of ownership occurs.
3. There is a proposed change in the location of the pharmacy, irrespective of whether there is also a proposed change in the approved pharmacist
Where:
- You intend to make an application to the Australian Community Pharmacy Authority (ACPA) to relocate the pharmacy and you are unable to open the pharmacy for reasons beyond your control.
- You intend to relocate the pharmacy and have made an application to the ACPA, and you are unable to open the pharmacy for reasons beyond your control.
- We have received a recommendation from the ACPA to approve an application to relocate the pharmacy and you are unable to open the pharmacy for reasons beyond your control.
A request to deactivate while the premises is vacant as you look for alternative premises may not be sufficient reason for us to grant a deactivation of the PBS approval.
The ACPA can only consider recommending approval of an application to relocate a pharmacy that is closed where the approval has been deactivated.
What you need to do
You must request deactivation by email.
In your request, clearly explain your reasons for seeking deactivation and include supporting documentation, such as:
- evidence showing your steps to resolve leasing or legal disputes and to find alternative locations for the pharmacy
- written advice from the leasing management about renovations to the premises and the need for the pharmacy business to vacate for a specific period
- written confirmation of your inability to operate the pharmacy due to illness or other circumstances beyond your control
- written evidence that you could not obtain the services of a locum pharmacist to continue the pharmacy business.
Your application must include the period for which you are seeking deactivation.
We may ask for additional information during the deactivation period or vary the deactivation period.
We will only consider extending the period of deactivation beyond the original period in exceptional circumstances and with supporting documentation.
Change of circumstances
We will use the reasons you provide in the request when deciding whether to grant deactivation and the period of the deactivation.
You must notify us in writing if your circumstances change at any stage during the deactivation period.
If we become aware of any significant change in your circumstances, we may ask you to provide reasons in writing as to why we should not cancel the approval.
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