Policy Pharmacy Policy

[Dept. Health]

Department of Health
Pharmacy Policy

THIS POLICY IS UNDER REVIEW AND WILL NOT COME INTO FORCE UNTIL 1ST MAY 2026

This policy sets out how pharmacists and pharmacies operate in Redmont under the oversight of the Department of Health.
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PHARMACISTS​

A pharmacist is anyone who holds a valid Pharmacist Licence. Under the Redmontian Health Service Act, pharmacists are authorised to dispense Class B and Class C treatments. They can dispense these treatments personally, or through a pharmacy registered under this policy.

CONDUCT
As healthcare professionals, pharmacists are expected to act honestly, responsibly, and in a way that promotes public confidence in the healthcare system.
In order to maintain their licence, pharmacists MUST:

• dispense treatments lawfully;
• dispense treatments in accordance with their classification;
• not mislead players about the purpose, effect, legality, or availability of any treatment; and
• comply with Department of Health policy.

PERSONAL DISPENSING
A licensed pharmacist may personally dispense treatments where the dispensing is:

• carried out directly by that pharmacist;
• occasional or ad hoc in nature; and
• not part of the operation of a standing pharmacy service, shop, or business.

A person will be treated as operating a pharmacy, and not merely personally dispensing, where they:

• dispense treatments from a fixed or recurring location;
• hold themselves out to the public as operating a pharmacy, chemist, drugstore, or similar service;
• use chestshops, signs, or similar arrangements as part of a standing dispensing service; or
• otherwise carry out an organised or continuous pharmacy operation.

Abuse of personal dispensing to operate an unregistered pharmacy may lead to enforcement action from the Department of Health, or any other authority empowered by law.

PHARMACIES​

A pharmacy is a registered setup for the dispensing of Class B treatments from one or more approved locations under the authority of a licensed pharmacist.

REGISTRATION
Any person or entity operating a pharmacy MUST register that pharmacy with the Department of Health.

INITIAL REGISTRATION
A registration application MUST include:

• a declared owner;
• at least one declared operating location; and
• a declared responsible pharmacist for each operating location.

A one-time registration fee of $500 is charged upon approval of a registration application.

By making an application, the owner of the pharmacy agrees to the Department of Health charging this fee.
If the owner is an entity, the owner must identify a player balance that the Department of Health can charge as part of the application.

Operating a pharmacy without registration may result in enforcement action.

REGISTERED LOCATIONS
A pharmacy MUST only operate from the locations recorded on its registration.

If the owner wishes to add, remove, or change an operating location, they MUST notify the Department of Health and apply to amend the pharmacy's registration.

A fee of $100 is charged upon the approval of each new operating location added to the pharmacy's registration.

UPKEEP FEES
A monthly upkeep fee of $100 is charged for each operating location recorded on a pharmacy's registration as of the 1st of the month. This fee is also due on that day.

If any required fee cannot be collected before the 8th of the month, the Department of Health may suspend or revoke the pharmacy’s registration.

Fees charged under this policy are not refundable.

OWNERSHIP
Each pharmacy MUST have a clearly identified owner.

The owner of a pharmacy may be an individual or an entity. The owner is not required to hold a Pharmacist Licence, and owning a pharmacy does not by itself authorise a person to dispense treatments or act as a pharmacist.

The owner is responsible for ensuring that:

• the pharmacy remains properly registered;
• the pharmacy operates only from locations recorded on its registration;
• the pharmacy has a responsible pharmacist for each registered location at all times; and
• the pharmacy complies with law and Department of Health policy.

The owner MUST notify the Department of Health as soon as reasonably practicable of any change in ownership or details of the registration.

RESPONSIBLE PHARMACIST
Each operating location of a pharmacy MUST have a licensed pharmacist named as the responsible pharmacist. The same pharmacist may be named as the responsible pharmacist for more than one operating location, unless the Department of Health directs otherwise.

The responsible pharmacist for an operating location MUST ensure that:

• they hold a valid Pharmacist Licence;
• treatments are dispensed lawfully at that location; and
• all applicable Department of Health policy is complied with at that location.

LOCATIONS
Each operating location of a pharmacy MUST:

• be on a plot type where chestshops are permitted;
• be on a plot or subplot used only for the operation of that pharmacy;
• be on a plot or subplot lawfully controlled by the pharmacy; and
• clearly identify the responsible pharmacist for that location.

OPERATIONS
Pharmacies are subject to Department of Health regulation regarding the goods they may sell and the prices they may charge.

CHESTSHOPS
Chestshops used by a pharmacy to dispense treatments MUST:

• have the pharmacy owner or the responsible pharmacist as the owner of the chestshop;
• dispense treatments individually;
• only permit customers to buy, and not sell, treatments through the ChestShop; and
• be accessible to the public when visible using /find.

PRICING
Pharmacies MUST price all treatments individually and, where applicable, at no more than double the Medicare coverage for that treatment.

OTHER GOODS
Pharmacies may trade in some goods other than health treatments at their locations provided that their main function remains the dispensing of Class B treatments.

Only the following additional goods may be traded at pharmacy locations:

• Class C treatments
• Supplies used to craft treatments
• Custom food items
• Custom drink items (except elixirs)

GRANTS AND SUPPORT
The Department of Health may provide grants or other support to pharmacies or prospective pharmacies in accordance with any applicable Department of Health grants policy.

RENTAL PHARMACY LOCATIONS
The Department of Health may establish and maintain pre-built pharmacy locations for rental by licensed pharmacists as a form of support for pharmacists who are not established.

A pharmacy operating from a Department of Health rental pharmacy location does not require registration under this policy. The renting pharmacist is treated as the owner of the pharmacy at that location for the duration of their tenancy, and becomes the responsible pharmacist for that location.

A person MUST NOT:

• rent more than one Department of Health rental pharmacy location at the same time;
• rent such a location while registered as the owner of a pharmacy; or
• rent such a location while recorded as the responsible pharmacist for any other pharmacy.

Unless the Department of Health permits otherwise, any chestshop used at such a location MUST show the renting pharmacist as the owner of the chestshop.

ENFORCEMENT
Where the Department of Health is satisfied that a pharmacy, its owner, or a responsible pharmacist has acted in breach of this policy, it may take enforcement action.

Enforcement action may include:

• refusal of a registration or amendment to a registration;
• suspension or revocation of a pharmacy’s registration;
• suspension or removal of an operating location from a pharmacy’s registration;
• suspension or revocation of a Pharmacist Licence; or
• any other lawful enforcement measure available to the Department of Health.

A pharmacy MUST NOT operate while its registration is suspended, revoked, or otherwise not in force.

A pharmacy MUST NOT operate from an operating location that has been removed, suspended, or otherwise ceased to be recorded on its registration.

The Pharmacy Policy is updated and enforced at the discretion of the Secretary. Any doubts, concerns or requests may be raised directly with the Secretary or Deputy Secretary.

Stay healthy!
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