Curly questions arising from the Therapeutic Products Bill

Changes to the pharmacy ownership model have been on the political agenda for many years with much back and forth on whether to allow non-pharmacists buy a pharmacy business. The Ministry of Health is seeking feedback on the revised Therapeutic Products Bill set to replace the Medicines Act 1981.

Not surprisingly, deregulation of pharmacy ownership is an option being considered. But, unlike the previous Government, officials have included a second option – to keep the status quo with more regulations and power to penalise people trying to get around the rules.

Former Green Cross Health pharmacy boss Grant Bai shares his thoughts