Lodgement Dates

The Pharmacy Council of New South Wales is required to advise the Pharmaceutical Benefits Branch, Medicare Australia when the requirements of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NSW) relating to the change of ownership, relocation or establishment of a new pharmacy have been met. Medicare Australia, subject to its requirements, is unable to issue a PBS Approval unless this confirmation is provided.

The Council may only provide this confirmation following approval of the change of ownership, relocation or new pharmacy at one if its monthly meetings.

Applications for Council consideration are to be received at least 10 days* before the monthly meeting. This time allows for the application to be assessed and included on the meeting agenda. Agendas are required to be issued seven (7) days before the meeting.

The closing dates for lodgement of applications for the Council meetings for 2011 are as follows:

Council Meeting	Application lodged by
14 December 2011	2 December 2011

Council Meeting	Application lodged by
11 January 2012	30 December 2011*
8 February 2012	27 January 2012
14 March 2012	2 March 2012
11 April 2012	30 March 2012
9 May 2012	27 April 2012
13 June 2012	1 June 2012
11 July 2012	29 June 2012
8 August 2012	27 July 2012
12 September 2012	31 August 2012
10 October 2012	28 September 2012
14 November 2012	2 November 2012
12 December 2012	30 November 2012

* The offices of the Pharmacy Council of New South Wales will be closed from midday on 23 December to 3 January 2012; no over-the-counter applications can be accepted during this period.

* Applications for Change of Ownership, which involve an individual or Pharmacists' Body Corporate acting as a trustee for a trust, are to be lodged 21 days prior to the meeting of the Council.

* Where a change of ownership involves a sale of one or more pharmacies and the immediate  purchase of one or more pharmacies with multiple partnerships, applications are to be lodged at least 21 days prior to the meeting.

THESE DATES SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OR LEGAL AND FINANCIAL ADVISERS AND TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN ARRANGING SETTLEMENT OF CONTRACTS, INSPECTION OF PREMISES AND SUBMISSION OF DOCUMENTS ETC.

AN EXCHANGED SALE AGREEMENT MUST BE LODGED WITH ANY CHANGE OR OWNERSHIP APPLICATION.

Any application received AFTER the LODGED BY date will be held over for consideration at the following monthly meeting of the Council. For example, an application received after the May lodgement date cut off will not be included on the June agenda but will be held over for consideration at the July Meeting.

The Council appreciates that late lodgement of an application may result in difficulties for an applicant. Applicants are therefore advised the read The Guide carefully, to ensure all documentation is in order, and to make any inquiries in a timely manner thus ensuring the application will be included for consideration by Council at the next available meeting.

Should you have any questions after having read The Guide, do not hesitate to contact the Council.