QCPP Website

*Background to the Development of the Program

Early in 1997, the Guild saw a need to explore options for pharmacy proprietors to protect and expand their front of shop business to ensure their future viability in an environment of ever-increasing competition. In exploring these options, the Guild sought strategic business advice for community pharmacies from a number of leading retail business consultants.

As a result, a leading firm of consultants with a very successful track record in Australian retail business development, the CR Group, was identified to assist the Guild. The CR Group was engaged to develop a business model for community pharmacies that would make them more profitable and easier to run.

During the early stages of the project, the National Competition Policy reviews of pharmacy were announced. In responding to the threats to community pharmacy which those reviews potentially posed, especially with respect to the current ownership arrangements and the sale of S2/S3 products, it became clear to the Guild that there was a need to clearly demonstrate the public benefit of community pharmacy to the reviewing authorities.

As a result of these developments, the Guild decided to expand the proposed business model to cover all standards of services provided to the public by community pharmacies. The aim had thus moved from purely a business model to a quality assurance program dedicated to raising the standards of service given to the public, to improving health outcomes, as well as improving profitability. This led to the development of the Quality Care Pharmacy Program (QCPP).

Since its initial launch to the industry at the Australian Pharmacy Professional conference in March 1998, the QCPP has become an important vehicle for industry quality assurance self-regulation, designed to improve service to customers, especially by some pharmacies that may be performing at less than optimum levels.

The driving force behind the Program has been Kos Sclavos who formerly held offices of National Vice-President of the Guild, President of the Queensland Branch of the Guild, and Chairman of the Australian Institute of Pharmacy Management. Under Kos� guidance, the Program has gained unprecedented support across the industry from all national and State/Territory professional bodies, and all major wholesalers and their retail brands.

The Program is based on business and professional standards that have been developed by both the Guild and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia.

There was widespread industry support and participation in the development of the Program through the industry planning group established early on by the Guild. Members of the planning group included representatives from the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, the Australian Institute of Pharmacy Management, the Australian Association of Consultant Pharmacy, the Association of Pharmacy Registering Authorities ( as it was then known) , and the Australian Friendly Society Pharmacies Association, as well as representatives from AMCAL, API, Mayne, Sigma and Soul Pattinson.

There has also been widespread industry support for the Program through sponsorships provided by leading industry manufacturers.

Current sponsors are Alphapharm, PDL and Guild Insurance and Financial Services Ltd.

By supporting the Program financially, these sponsors have clearly demonstrated their support for community pharmacy.

Pfizer Consumer Healthcare is also a very strong supporter of the Quality Care Pharmacy Program through it's sponsorship of the Quality Care Pharmacy of the Year award..

Program Materials

Full details of the Program materials are in the section headed Visual Aid to the QCPP Materials. Please note that purchase of all the materials is a requirement for gaining accreditation.

Implementing the Program

Pharmacies that implement the Standards will, on request, be assessed against the Program Standards by a licensed Assessor (see under main menu and button for Licensed Assessors). On successful completion of an assessment and accreditation, pharmacies will receive an Accreditation Certificate and a Quality Care Pharmacy logo. The logo has been developed by the Guild as a window decal to promote instant public recognition of Quality Care pharmacies.

The Financial Incentives

In May 2000 the Program took a major step forward by the successful negotiation of financial incentives for QCPP as part of the Third Community Pharmacy Agreement. All Community Pharmacies have access to these incentives, and they are being made available to encourage pharmacies to gain accreditation under the QCPP.

The funds available for QCPP incentives total $50 million over five years. An amount of $10,000 is able to be paid to all pharmacies for achieving QCPP milestones.

It is hoped that the incentives will mean that all of Australia�s pharmacy proprietors will embrace the Program and its underlying philosophy of achieving best practice in the delivery of community pharmacy goods and services. QCPP is now the benchmark to which all community pharmacies must strive.

For more information on the various financial incentives available, click here.

Quality Care Pharmacy of the Year Award

This award, open to all accredited pharmacies, was introduced in 2000. Winners to date are:
2000, Berwick Pharmacy, Victoria; 2001 Range Pharmacy, Queensland; 2002 Friendlies Chemist, Western Australia; 2003 Maleny Amcal Chemist Queensland; 2004, Warnbro Fair Chemist, Western Australia; 2005 Morgan & Rule Victoria.

This award has developed into the most prestigious award in community pharmacy. For further details click here.

Further Information

If you are interested in this important Guild initiative and would like to find out more about it, please call the Program Manager, Lyndall Chittick on 1300 363 340 and she will be delighted to provide additional information.

Lorraine Humphreys

Director, Quality Care Pharmacy

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