Pharmacy approvals cover applications to establish new pharmacies, any relocation of existing pharmacies, or to expand or contract the size of an existing pharmacy.
All associated fees have been reduced following the department’s annual review.
Under the new arrangement, the fee to establish or relocate a pharmacy will be $1,370, down from $1,600, marking a reduction of $230.
The fee to increase or decrease the size of an existing pharmacy has been cut by $90 - from $555 to $465.
“These fee reductions are a welcome outcome for entrants to the sector, at a time when operational costs are increasing across the board,” a Pharmacy Guild of Australia spokesperson said.
“To keep community pharmacy as one of most accessible parts of the Australian healthcare system, it’s important to have a regulatory framework that helps—not hinders—investment in pharmacy services.”
The cost reviews are part of an agreement between the Commonwealth and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and are aimed at deterring repetitive or vexatious applications while ensuring pharmacy ownership and accessible health remains within reach for all Australians.
The department has been charging fees for pharmacy approvals since FY2019-20 when the Guild and the Commonwealth agreed a fee was needed to deter vexatious and repetitive applications.
Each financial year the department re-assesses the costs and updates the fees accordingly.
Last financial year the fee for new and relocating pharmacies remained unchanged at $1,600, while the fee for expanding or contracting pharmacies was reduced from $600 to $555.
