Lodgement of applications
General information
The processing of applications is undertaken in order of their receipt by the Council.
It is recommended that independent professional advice and/or assistance (lawyer, accountant, pharmacy broker) be sought in the preparation of applications, and particularly those involving complex business structures.
Where do I submit my pharmacy application?
Completed pharmacy application forms along with supporting documents should be submitted electronically by email to HPCA-CMS-Pharmacy-Applications@health.nsw.gov.au. Please clearly title each attachment; for example: lease, partnership agreement. This will greatly assist us to identify the documents and assess your application.
What happens after I submit my application?
We will send you an acknowledgment email confirming receipt within 2 working days of receiving your application.
How long will it take to approve my application?
Only complete and compliant applications will be considered for approval. All documents submitted as part of your application will be reviewed for compliance with the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NSW). The majority of complete and compliant applications will be approved within 10 business days. Applications that include commercial agreements, such as franchise and buyer group agreements, may take longer to assess.
An application that is incomplete or non-compliant will take longer to assess and may need to be referred to a Council meeting for consideration. To avoid delay, applicants should ensure their application is complete and compliant and that all required documentation is provided in the correct format at the time of lodgement.
Applicants will be notified if their application is incomplete and/or non compliant and will be given an opportunity to rectify any anomalies.
For the purpose of calculating the timeframe to rectify anomalies, it should be noted that an application that has not been dealt with by Council is taken to have been refused on the day that is one month after the application was lodged, or a later date as decided by the Council and communicated to the applicant (see Clause 13 of Schedule 5F of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NSW)).
The Council cannot provide ‘on-the-spot’ approvals. The Council is not responsible for any delays caused by submission of incomplete documents in circumstances where Council approval is a condition of settlement.
New details of ownership of a pharmacy business will not be entered onto the Register of Pharmacies until a Notice of Completion has been submitted, clearly identifying the date that settlement or transfer of ownership occurred.
Where can I find the forms?
Pharmacy forms are available on the Council’s website.
Where can I find more information to help in completing the forms?
If you have any questions after having read The Guide please contact Council staff for assistance. The services of a lawyer, accountant or pharmacy broker may also assist.