23 June 2021

REMINDER - to pharmacy proprietors and holders of financial interests – annual requirements

If you are a NSW pharmacy owner and/or held an interest in a NSW pharmacy business on 30 April 2021, you must by 30 June 2021:

• ensure the annual renew of registration of your pharmacy premises is paid; and
• complete a declaration of your financial interest in a pharmacy business and pay the declaration fee -$297 for each pharmacy business

The Council thanks those pharmacists who have already renewed their premises registration and completed their annual declaration. If you have not yet attended to these requirements, please read on. 

Notices sent

Two separate notices have been sent by email:

1.    to your pharmacy email address - the annual renewal of your pharmacy   premises registration; and 

2.    to your personal email address - your annual declaration of financial Interest in a pharmacy business.

Payment of the pharmacy premises registration renewal fee and completion of your annual declaration may only be achieved online via the Council’s website using billing numbers provided in the notices.

Annual Renewal of Pharmacy Premises Registration

By paying the annual renewal of pharmacy premises registration your pharmacy will maintain current approval and will remain on the Register of Pharmacies. Annual renewal payments are due by 30 June each year.

If payment is not received by the due date, your pharmacy will no longer be subject to current approval of the Council.

• Annual renewal payments made by 30 June 2021 will result in the approval of pharmacy premises to 30 June 2022.
• Annual renewal payments made during July will incur a late fee of $100. Payment of the renewal fee and the late fee will result in the approval of pharmacy premises to 30 June 2022.
• Annual renewal payments not received by 31 July -  payment will not be accepted after 31 July. Approval of pharmacy premises will be revoked and the pharmacy will be removed from the Register of Pharmacies. Proprietors wishing to obtain a current approval will be required to submit an application for a new pharmacy.

Renewal payments may be made online through the Council’s website here using the billing number provided with the annual renewal notice.

Declarations of financial interest in a pharmacy business

If you held a financial interest in a NSW pharmacy business on 30 April 2021, you must complete an annual declaration of financial interest. This year a new fee of $297 for each pharmacy business applies.

Annual declarations may be completed online via the Council’s website here using the billing number provided with your annual declaration notice and must be completed by 30 June 2020. 

Completing the annual declaration including paying the fee is estimated to take no more than 10 minutes.

Why was a new fee introduced?

The work of the Council is entirely funded from fees paid by pharmacists registered in NSW and owners of NSW pharmacies. The Council deals with complaints about pharmacists and students in NSW and regulates pharmacy ownership to ensure there is no impermissible financial interest in a pharmacy business. The Council also maintains the Register of Pharmacies and undertakes an inspection program to proactively monitor pharmacies to ensure compliance with legal and other requirements.

The growing complexity in pharmacy ownership business structures has led to a substantial increase in the Council’s expenses over recent years. Commercial documents provided with ownership applications often require legal review to ensure that financial interests are only held by registered pharmacists.  Managing annual declarations of financial interests includes the following activities which are not covered by existing fees:

• reviewing the documentation for the annual notices as required
• annually updating The Guide to provide information relating to the process and the relevant fee
• updates / changes to the Register of Pharmacies and website software to accommodate the efficient management of the notification and payment processes
• checking each submitted declaration against the Register of Pharmacies and making updates as required
• following up pharmacists who have not submitted a declaration by the due date
• following up annual declaration mismatches. For example, following up pharmacists who have disposed of a financial interest, closed their pharmacy or changed their pharmacy name but have not submitted the appropriate notice
• processing the disposal of financial interests, changes of name and closed pharmacies and updating the Register of Pharmacies. 

The introduction of the new fee will ensure the financial viability of the Council into the future and enable it to continue to fulfil its responsibilities under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NSW). The new fee will also ensure that pharmacists who are not pharmacy owners are not subsiding Council’s pharmacy ownership work.

What will happen if I do not complete my annual declaration by the due date?

Failure to submit an annual declaration by the due date may result in a complaint of unsatisfactory professional conduct and/or a maximum penalty of $2,200.

Instructions for using the annual declaration online facility

Access to the Council’s annual declaration portal is via the link provided in your annual declaration notice. A link is also provided – see above. Instructions to assist in completing the annual declaration will be provided once you have entered the portal. More information is provided below.

• Once you have entered the portal, you will be asked to enter the billing number provided with your notice to start the declaration process.
• Information you provide will be matched against information held in the Register of Pharmacies. You will be notified if there is a mismatch.
• Once you have completed your declaration and made your payment you will be asked to declare the information is true and complete. By confirming ‘I agree’, your declaration will be submitted.
• An electronic receipt will be issued to confirm your payment.

Completing the annual declaration including paying the fee is estimated to take no more than 10 minutes.

What do I do if there is a mismatch?

A mismatch occurs if the information you provide in your declaration does not match the information recorded in the Register of Pharmacies. In the event of a mismatch, you may complete the annual declaration and we will then contact you for more information. Alternatively, you may exit the annual declaration portal and contact the Council by email on HPCA-PharmacyCouncilOwnership@health.nsw.gov.au or by phone 1300 197 177 for assistance. 

I held a financial interest in a NSW pharmacy on 30 April 2021 but I did not receive my notice. What do I do?

Annual declaration notices were sent to your personal email address registered with AHPRA. If you did not receive your notice and it is not in your junk email folder please contact the Council by email on HPCA-PharmacyCouncilOwnership@health.nsw.gov.au or by phone 1300 197 177 for assistance.

What is a financial interest?

You hold a financial interest in a NSW pharmacy business if you have a direct or indirect monetary interest in that business. Holders of a financial interest include pharmacist proprietors, pharmacists who are partners in a pharmacists’ partnership that owns a pharmacy, pharmacists who are shareholders or directors in a pharmacists’ body corporate that owns a pharmacy, and beneficiaries of a trust that operates in respect of a pharmacists’ body corporate that owns a pharmacy.

Need more information?

If you have a question or need further information about your notice or the annual declaration process, please contact the Council at:

• Email address: - HPCA-PharmacyCouncilOwnership@health.nsw.gov.au
• Phone - 1300 197 177