Who needs to apply for a licence
Under the Pharmacy Business Ownership Act 2024 (PBO Act), a person must not own or carry on a pharmacy business unless they hold a licence for the business.
A pharmacy business is one that provides core pharmacy services. A core pharmacy service is:
- compounding of medicines for sale to members of the public;
- dispensing, by or under the supervision of a practising pharmacist, of medicines to members of the public; or
- selling, by or under the supervision of a practising pharmacist, of medicines to members of the public.
The following are not pharmacy businesses for the purpose of the PBO Act:
- a business carried on by the State at a public sector hospital
- a business carried on at a hospital that provides core pharmacy services to only patients at the hospital
- a business carried on by a veterinary surgeon at premises used by the surgeon in the practice of the surgeon's profession
- a business that compounds medicines for sale, or dispenses medicines, to members of the public solely in connection with the manufacture of animal food under a manufacturing licence under the Medicines and Poisons Act 2019.
Does the PBO Act apply to online pharmacies
Any business that falls within the definition of a pharmacy business will require a licence, regardless of whether it provides pharmacy services directly to customers at the bricks and mortar premises, or through indirect means, for example, online ordering and supply by courier.
What if I own a non-PBS pharmacy
Owners of pharmacy businesses in Queensland, regardless of if they are approved to supply Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines or not, will need to apply for a pharmacy business licence if they are considered a pharmacy business under the PBO Act.