Woolworths restructures corporate pharmacies after court challenge

Countdown Pharmacy in Wainuiomata in 2023. (Image: BusinessDesk)

Wed, 25 Sep 2024

Last year, a group of independent pharmacists won what seemed to be a big victory against corporate and discount pharmacies. They secured a High Court ruling that Countdown pharmacy licences to operate were unlawful and invalid.On Sept 24, 2024, Countdown pharmacies, now renamed Woolworths, remained open with new and fully legal licences. The Independent Community Pharmacy Group (ICPG) was in the Court of Appeal in Wellington that day with a far more modest aim – to establish whether health authorities are following the law and their...

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