The Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (WA) Act 2010 (“the National Law”) came into operation on 18 October 2010. Corresponding identical legislation has been passed in all states and territories but in no sense is the National Law a Commonwealth law. The National Law creates ten health registration boards including the Pharmacy Board of Australia.
Under the Council of Australian Governments agreement that led to the passing of the National Law, pharmacy ownership and approval of premises were specifically excluded from it. The Parliament of Western Australia has therefore established the Pharmacy Registration Board of Western Australia (“Board”) under the Pharmacy Act 2010 (“Act”) to assume these functions. The Board is the successor in law to the Pharmaceutical Council of Western Australia in relation to pharmacy businesses, pharmacy premises, or any other pharmacy related entity that is not an individual and in essence, carries out the latter’s functions other than those related to registration, professional practice, complaint handling, discipline, competency, and approval of training of ancillary staff, each of which is the responsibility of the Pharmacy Board of Australia