Numerous pharmacists are asking questions relating to the relocation rules or new number approvals for pharmacy. These queries have increased considerably in the past 12 months as sale prices for pharmacies have continued to remain high and pharmacists are looking at other ways to enter into the market.
The third Community Pharmacy Agreement as highlighted by the Australian Community Pharmacy Authority (ACPA), which expires in June 2005, clearly states what you can and cannot do with regards to relocation or new approval numbers.
Short relocation
With reference to the short relocation rule; a pharmacy can relocate their existing approval number, up to 1,000 meters without reference to the distance of any other pharmacies. Where the proposed location is between 1,000 – 1,500 meters from your current approved pharmacy, the proposed location must be at least 500 meters from the nearest other pharmacy, unless that pharmacy is less than 1,000 meters from their current location. All distances are measured in a straight line from the mid-point at floor level of the public access doors of the two locations concerned.
Long relocation
The ACPA can also approve a relocation of an approval number as long as the proposed location is at least 1,500 meters, measured by straight line from the nearest other pharmacy OR 2,000 meters measured by the shortest lawful access route from the nearest other pharmacy.
There are other requirements relating to these two relocation’s that your Pharmacy Solutions Broker can discuss with you in more detail.
Other relocation’s
Large shopping centres – If the proposed shopping centre is of a certain size, has the correct number of shops and satisfies other requirements an existing approval number can be relocated into the centre without any distance requirements being met.
Private hospital – If the private hospital has evidence of at least 150 beds and satisfies the ACPAs other requirements, an existing approval number can be relocated into the private hospital with reference to any distance from existing pharmacies.
Urban or rural location – The ACPA has provided guidelines where by an existing approval number can be relocated into an urban or rural location under exceptional circumstances.
Your Pharmacy Solutions broker is a professional and has expert knowledge when it comes to relocation’s or new approval numbers. Pharmacy Solutions will be able to establish if your business is able to be relocated, potentially increasing the value of your pharmacy. If you are thinking of selling your pharmacy, talk to us at Pharmacy Solutions, we have offices located in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.