Countdown pharmacies still open during licence consultation

It's business as usual at Countdown pharmacies, like this one at Wainuiomata, says head pharmacist Jeremy Armes. (Image: Getty)

Staff reporters

Fri, 16 Jun 2023

Both Countdown and the Ministry of Health say they are still digesting the June 15 high court ruling that invalidated the pharmacy licences of at least two Countdown pharmacies.Justice Cheryl Gwyn found that licences granted by the Ministry of Health to operate Countdown pharmacies were unlawful and invalid. She ruled that the pharmacist shareholder in the Countdown pharmacy company GDL RX NO8 Limited (RX8) did not have full control of company decision-making, as required by the Medicines Act. That was because the company structure al...

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