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Medicines Act 1981

Provisions relating to licences - Restrictions on persons allowed to operate pharmacies

55F: Prohibition on operating or holding of majority interest in more than 5 pharmacies

You could also call this:

"You can't own or control more than 5 pharmacies."

Illustration for Medicines Act 1981

You cannot operate more than 5 pharmacies. You also cannot hold a majority interest in more than 5 pharmacies. This rule does not apply to you if you are administering an estate or property that includes pharmacies, or if you are trying to sell a pharmacy and have a short time to sort it out.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM56028.

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Business > Industry rulesHealth and wellbeing > Healthcare services
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55E: Restriction on individuals operating or holding majority interest in pharmacies, or

"Only pharmacists can own or run most pharmacies"

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55G: Exemption for mortgagees in possession, or

"Temporary pharmacy licence for people taking over unpaid mortgages"

Part 3Provisions relating to licences
Restrictions on persons allowed to operate pharmacies

55FProhibition on operating or holding of majority interest in more than 5 pharmacies

  1. Despite sections 55D and 55E, and unless subsection (2) or subsection (3) applies,—

  2. no company may operate more than 5 pharmacies:
    1. no person referred to in section 55E(3) may operate or hold a majority interest in more than 5 pharmacies.

      1. Subsection (1) does not apply to any person referred to in section 55E(3), to the extent that 1 or more pharmacies, or interests in 1 or more pharmacies, are lawfully included in the estate or property that the person is administering, unless section 55E(4) applies.

      2. Subsection (1) does not apply to any person who, while attempting to sell 1 pharmacy of which the person is the operator, carries on business in no more than 5 other pharmacies for a period not exceeding 3 months, or, subject to any conditions that the licensing authority imposes, any extended period or periods permitted by the authority.

      3. Subsection (3) is subject to sections 55D and 55E.

      4. Subsection (1) does not apply to Health New Zealand established by section 11 of the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022.

      Compare
      • 1970 No 143 s 45
      Notes
      • Section 55F: inserted, on , by section 17 of the Medicines Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 50).
      • Section 55F(5): inserted, on , by section 104 of the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022 (2022 No 30).