In this episode of the Calm the Pharm podcast, host Sarah Stoddart delves into the changes regarding ministerial discretion for pharmacy business applications, emphasising the importance of understanding the application process and recent legislative updates.
Ministerial discretion allows pharmacy businesses to request approval to supply pharmaceutical benefits from specific premises, particularly when the Australian Community Pharmacy Authority (ACPA) has denied the application. Before submitting a ministerial discretion request, an applicant must first go through the ACPA process, which reviews the application against the pharmacy location rules.
Significant changes have recently streamlined the ministerial discretion process. Previously, applicants faced a lengthy six-month timeline, including a two-stage decision process with the Minister, but this has now been condensed into a single four-month decision period. This change reduces the total time from about nine or ten months to potentially eight months. Moreover, applicants are now restricted to submitting one request for ministerial discretion per 12-month period.
In summary, the podcast emphasises the necessity for pharmacy businesses to understand the intricate landscape of ministerial discretion. With recent changes shortening the decision timeline and limiting the frequency of requests, thorough preparation and strategic planning are more critical than ever for successful applications. Sarah encourages pharmacy owners to reach out for assistance when navigating these complex processes to improve their likelihood of obtaining approvals.
Calm The Pharm is brought to you by your host, Sarah Stoddart. Sarah is the founder and director of Vitality Law Australia, a boutique law firm which provides small business owners and healthcare professionals across Australia with clear legal pathways and peace of mind. She is recognised as a leader in the healthcare industry and is one of only a few lawyers in Australia with specialist experience working with pharmacy businesses.
In 2021, Sarah was named the Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Australian Sole Practitioner of the Year. She was also named as a finalist in the AusMumpreneur Business Awards. In 2022, she was named as a finalist in the Women in Business Awards for The Hills and Districts Chamber of Commerce, the Australian Law Awards and again in the Women in Law Awards.
Sarah is the co-author of business book, “Courage and Confidence”. The book is a collection of inspirational stories combined with practical tools, tips and advice written by a small group of Australian women in business. She is also a non-executive director of MS Queensland.
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