The Victorian Pharmacy Authority (VPA) regulates the ownership and operation of pharmacy businesses, pharmacy departments and pharmacy depots in Victoria.
The Victorian Pharmacy Authority (VPA) regulates the ownership and operation of pharmacy businesses, pharmacy departments and pharmacy depots in Victoria.
The office of the Victorian Pharmacy Authority will close for the Christmas - New Year period from 3.00 pm on Monday 23 December 2024 until Monday 6 January 2025. We wish you a safe and happy festive season.
12 July 2024
Condition imposed to restrict the compounding of medicines at Willby’s Compounding Pharmacy
The Victorian Pharmacy Authority (VPA) today has placed a condition on the premises registration of Willby’s Compounding Pharmacy restricting the compounding and supply of complex compounded medicines intended for treatment of paediatric patients. This includes the 'Willby's Wind and Colic Mix' and any other colic remedies.
4 July 2024
Compounded colic preparations containing Atropa belladonna
The TGA has issued a safety advisory following reports of serious side effects in infants given compounded wind and colic products containing Atropa belladonna (belladonna). The safety advisory recommends that parents and carers should consult a medical practitioner before giving a compounded colic preparation containing belladonna to an infant.
28 March 2024
15 December 2023
It has been a period of significant change at the VPA. We celebrated Senior Pharmacist David Thirlwall’s retirement earlier this year and recognised his many contributions to the work of the VPA. Experienced VPA inspector Jessica Webster stepped into the Senior Pharmacist role from April this year. We thank Marie Ritchie for her contributions as an Authority member. Marie recently completed her second 3-year term as a community member of the VPA. We welcome Jane Hill, an accomplished leader in health and community services, who was appointed as a community member from 1 July 2024. It was pleasing to see and meet many licensees, pharmacists and stakeholders at our recent hybrid information evening on the VPA inspection program and risk-based approach for pharmacies. The session highlighted licensees’ compliance obligations under the regulatory framework and high-risk areas which typically form the focus of inspections. Our recently published Statement of Regulatory Approach includes information on the risk-based approach and is intended to support licensees to develop a strong and effective compliance culture. An increased focus on risk management requires licensees to identify and appropriately manage risks in their pharmacies and pharmacy departments. The updated VPA self-audit form is a valuable tool designed to assist licensees and pharmacists with this task by auditing their compliance with key requirements of the Act, VPA Standards, VPA guidelines and good pharmacy practice. The revised VPA Guidelines also include new guidance to support compliance with the standards relating to risk management.
David McConville Chair
The Victorian Pharmacy Authority (VPA) is established under section 81 of the Pharmacy Regulation Act 2010 (Act) to regulate the ownership and operation of pharmacy businesses, pharmacy departments and pharmacy depots through the functions specified in section 82 of the Act.
The Statement of Regulatory Approach provides an overview of the regulatory approach taken by the VPA when carrying out its regulatory activities, including inspections of registered premises. It is also intended to support regulated entities to develop a strong and effective compliance culture.
The VPA’s performance measurement framework includes information on its activities and intended outcomes. This includes targets under the Ministerial Statement of Expectations, service standards and statistics on VPA activities. A performance report is included on a quarterly basis.
Welcome to the VPA’s December circular.
In this circular, we include information on the VPA’s approach to pharmacy franchising in the context of recent industry developments. On behalf of the members of the VPA, I reiterate our ongoing commitment to ensuring that all Victorian pharmacies are owned, operated and controlled only by registered pharmacists.
Other focus areas relate to compounding, including sterile compounding, and medicinal cannabis. We highlight important considerations for pharmacists considering compounding medicinal cannabis, and information on sterile compounding following the recent TGA alert about compounded semaglutide-like products. There is also important information about holding stock of medicinal cannabis.
A highlight of this year has been the introduction of a new, improved inspection program, which focuses on compliance with the VPA Standards. We look forward to providing further information about our new approach to inspections in the new year.
At this time of the year, we remind proprietors to renew your AHPRA registration by 31 December if you haven‘t already done so, given the significant implications of a lapsed registration on a licensee’s eligibility to continue to hold a pharmacy business licence.
On behalf of the VPA members and staff, I wish you a happy and safe festive season and best wishes for the new year.
David McConville
Chair
The VPA’s performance measurement framework includes information on its activities and intended outcomes. This includes targets under the Ministerial Statement of Expectations, service standards and statistics on VPA activities. A performance report is included on a quarterly basis.
