Unregistered pharmacists face prison

PHARMACISTS who practice without a valid Pharmacy Board of Australia registration could face three years jail time or fines of up to $60,000, under tougher laws which came into effect from 01 Jul.

Speaking yesterday, Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) CEO, Martin Fletcher, said the strengthened sanctions would protect the public and health professions from impostors.

“All health ministers recognise that penalties need to be tougher for serious cases,” he said.

“When someone pretends to be a registered health practitioner, they pose a significant risk to the public. ‘We don’t hesitate to act when someone is pretending to be a registered practitioner.

“And from today, I send a message if you claim to be registered when you’re not – you will face serious consequences when you are caught.”

Earlier this year two unregistered pharmacists were taken before the courts in NSW, with Michael Simon convicted of falsely presenting himself as a pharmacist at a familyowned store in Randwick between 25 and 29 Jun 2018 - receiving a fine of $10,000 and ordered to pay costs of $4,000 (PD 23 Apr), while David Le was fined $24,000, when he was found to have continued to practice as a pharmacist, for more than a year after the Pharmacy Council of NSW suspended his license (PD 29 Mar).

The new tougher penalties for practising without registration have been ratified in all jurisdictions except Western Australia.