The framework behind responsible pharmacy access
PAS™ is the governance and assurance framework that defines how pharmacist-controlled access infrastructure is implemented, documented, and maintained. It is not a product. It is the standard that governs how PharmaSelf24™ and MedyBOX™ operate — and the evidence base that gives pharmacies, banner groups, and approval stakeholders confidence in every installation.
Structured. Documented. Pharmacist-governed. Auditable.
PAS™ is a voluntary operational framework. It does not replace, reframe, or reinterpret any Australian, state, or territory pharmacy legislation or regulation. State and territory regulatory bodies — including the Victorian Pharmacy Authority (VPA), AHPRA, and state health departments — take full precedence at all times. PAS™ is designed to work in alignment with those requirements, not in place of them.
A site-based assurance framework for pharmacy access infrastructure
PAS™ — the Pharmacy Access Standard — is Med-ID's governance framework for pharmacist-controlled pharmacy access infrastructure. It defines the operational, documentation, and oversight requirements that must be in place before any Med-ID system is deployed and maintained at a pharmacy site.
When a pharmacy carries the PAS™ mark, it means the site has been assessed against a defined set of criteria, the responsible pharmacist has acknowledged their governance obligations in writing, and the system is connected to Med-ID's monitoring platform for ongoing operational oversight.
PAS™ is not a marketing badge. It is the documented evidence that an installation is controlled, reviewable, and professionally governed — available to any stakeholder who needs to understand how the site operates.
Not the product
PharmaSelf24™ and MedyBOX™ are the physical systems. PAS™ is the framework that governs how they operate at every site.
Not a regulatory body
PAS™ does not replace or compete with state and territory pharmacy regulators. It is designed to support and align with their requirements.
Not a legal guarantee
PAS™ certification is not legal advice and does not constitute regulatory approval. Pharmacies remain responsible for all applicable compliance obligations.
A governance layer
PAS™ adds a structured, documented, pharmacist-governed operating layer that gives all stakeholders — including regulators, banner groups, and landlords — a clear basis for confidence.
The challenge is not just technical legality. It is approval confidence.
Pharmacy access infrastructure — systems that dispense prescriptions or provide retail access outside staffed hours — is lawful when properly governed. The barrier to adoption is rarely the law itself. It is the absence of a clear, documented framework that gives pharmacists, banner groups, landlords, and approval decision-makers the confidence to say yes.
Pharmacists need clarity
A pharmacist implementing an access system needs documented SOPs, defined product controls, and a clear record of their governance obligations. PAS™ provides that structure — so the pharmacist's responsibilities are explicit, not assumed.
Banner groups need consistency
A banner group approving an installation across multiple sites needs confidence that every site operates to the same standard. PAS™ creates that consistency — a single, auditable framework applied uniformly across the network.
Approval stakeholders need reviewability
Landlords, health networks, and cautious decision-makers need to know that if something goes wrong, there is a documented process, a responsible pharmacist on record, and a complete audit trail. PAS™ provides exactly that.
Every PAS™-certified site must satisfy all three
The three pillars are not aspirational values. They are operational requirements — assessed before certification is granted and maintained for the mark to remain valid.
Secure
Every PAS™-certified system operates under named pharmacist authority. Dispensing events and retail access are controlled by a licensed pharmacist — not by the system acting autonomously. The pharmacist's governance obligations are documented and acknowledged in writing before the system goes live.
Open 24/7
PAS™-certified systems extend pharmacy access beyond standard trading hours — providing patients with prescription collection and essential retail access when it is needed, not just when the dispensary counter is staffed. Operational availability is continuous; pharmacist oversight is built into the framework, not dependent on physical presence.
Contactless
Patient access is frictionless and dignified. Collection via secure PIN or touch-screen interface — no queuing, no waiting for staff availability. Every access event is logged. The audit trail is complete, timestamped, and available for review.
Request the PAS™ framework documents
PAS™ is a transparent framework. The documents that define the standard — and the criteria against which every pharmacy is assessed — are available to any pharmacy, banner group, regulator, or interested party. Submit a request and we will send the document directly to your email.
PAS™ Framework Document
The foundational governance document. Defines what PAS™ is, its scope, the three pillars, the administering authority, and the legal and regulatory context within Australian pharmacy legislation.
PAS™ Accreditation Standards Document
The technical and operational standards document. Defines the five certification criteria (C1–C5) in full — the standard, the evidence required to demonstrate compliance, and the assessment method used by Med-ID.
Five criteria. All five required.
PAS™ certification is assessed against five criteria (C1–C5), as defined in the PAS™ Accreditation Standards Document (PAS-AS-001). All five must be satisfied before the mark is granted, and maintained for the mark to remain valid. There is no partial certification.
The full standards — including the evidence required and assessment methods — are available in the downloadable documents above.
Pharmacist governance
- A named, licensed pharmacist must be designated as the responsible pharmacist for the system — not a role, a person.
- The pharmacist must approve all dispensing events (PharmaSelf24™) or the product range (MedyBOX™) before the system is operational. No system operates without pharmacist authorisation.
- The pharmacy must have documented standard operating procedures governing system use, reviewed and signed by the responsible pharmacist.
Operational compliance
- The system must operate within Australian pharmacy legislation and the applicable state or territory regulatory framework. PAS™ does not define what compliance looks like — it requires that compliance is documented and evidenced.
- PharmaSelf24™: all dispensing, clinical review, counselling, and authorised supply must be completed before any prescription is loaded. Schedule 8 products are not permitted under any circumstances.
- MedyBOX™: only approved non-scheduled general retail pharmacy items may be stocked. The product category list is defined, documented, and pharmacist-approved.
Security and access control
- Patient access must be secured via a unique PIN or equivalent access control mechanism — every collection event is attributable to a specific patient.
- The system must maintain a complete, timestamped audit trail of all access events. This trail is available for review by the pharmacy, Med-ID, and relevant regulatory authorities.
- Physical security must meet Med-ID's installation standards for the operating environment.
Connectivity and monitoring
- The system must be connected to Med-ID's remote monitoring platform — providing real-time operational visibility.
- Transaction logs, system health data, and access events must be accessible to Med-ID's operations centre at all times.
- The pharmacy must maintain connectivity in accordance with Med-ID's technical requirements.
Ongoing compliance
- The pharmacy must participate in Med-ID's periodic compliance review process. Certification is not a one-time event — it is maintained through ongoing oversight.
- Any material change to the system's operating environment, product range, or responsible pharmacist must be notified to Med-ID.
- The PAS™ mark may be suspended or withdrawn if certification criteria are not maintained. The framework has teeth.
PAS™ works with regulators, not instead of them
PAS™ is a voluntary operational framework. It is not a regulatory instrument, does not carry legal force, and does not create any obligation or binding requirement on any pharmacy, pharmacist, or operator. No part of PAS™ replaces, reframes, or reinterprets any Australian, state, or territory pharmacy legislation or regulation.
The state and territory regulatory bodies listed below are the lawful authorities governing pharmacy practice and premises in their respective jurisdictions. Their requirements, approvals, and decisions take full precedence at all times. A pharmacy must satisfy all applicable regulatory requirements before, during, and after PAS™ certification — PAS™ does not substitute for any of them.
Med-ID's position is one of alignment. PAS™ is designed as a service to pharmacies, pharmacists, banner groups, and regulators alike — providing the SOPs, usage documentation, management protocols, and audit trail that those bodies would expect to see when reviewing a pharmacy access infrastructure installation. PAS™ makes it easier to demonstrate compliance with the law; it does not define what compliance looks like.
State & Territory Regulatory Authorities
Victoria
VPA
Victorian Pharmacy Authority
Independent state authority under the Pharmacy Regulation Act 2010 (Vic)
New South Wales
PCNSW
Pharmacy Council of New South Wales
State council governing pharmacy premises and practice
Queensland
QH / AHPRA
Queensland Health + AHPRA
State health department and national practitioner registration
South Australia
SAH / AHPRA
SA Health + AHPRA
State health department and national practitioner registration
Western Australia
WAH / AHPRA
WA Health + AHPRA
State health department and national practitioner registration
Tasmania
TH / AHPRA
Tasmanian Health + AHPRA
State health department and national practitioner registration
Northern Territory
NTH / AHPRA
NT Health + AHPRA
Territory health department and national practitioner registration
Australian Capital Territory
ACTH / AHPRA
ACT Health + AHPRA
Territory health department and national practitioner registration
What PAS™ provides to pharmacies and pharmacists
- Documented standard operating procedures for system use
- Pharmacist acknowledgement of product controls (e.g. no Schedule 8 products in PharmaSelf24™)
- Defined and approved product category lists for MedyBOX™
- Incident reporting templates and compliance review schedules
- Complete audit trail of all access and dispensing events
What PAS™ provides to regulators and banner groups
- A consistent, auditable governance framework across all certified sites
- Evidence that pharmacist oversight is documented and enforced, not assumed
- A reference framework for assessing pharmacy access infrastructure installations
- Remote monitoring data accessible to support regulatory review if required
- Pharmacist-signed acknowledgements on file for all operational parameters
Important: PAS™ certification does not constitute legal advice, regulatory approval, or a guarantee of compliance with any applicable law or regulation. Pharmacies are responsible for obtaining all required approvals from the relevant state or territory regulatory authority before operating any pharmacy access infrastructure. Med-ID recommends that pharmacies seek independent legal and regulatory advice specific to their jurisdiction and circumstances.
How PAS™ addresses the real questions stakeholders ask
Approval decisions are rarely blocked by technical legality alone. They are held up by unanswered questions about control, accountability, and what happens when something goes wrong. PAS™ is designed to answer those questions before they are asked.
"Will this create compliance risk for my pharmacy?"
PAS™ certification means your system is operating under a documented governance framework — with named pharmacist responsibility, written SOPs, and a complete audit trail. If a question is ever raised, the evidence is already on file.
"Can we approve this consistently across our network?"
PAS™ applies the same criteria to every site. Banner groups can reference the framework when assessing member applications — knowing that every certified site has met the same documented standard.
"Is this a managed installation or an unattended machine?"
PAS™-certified systems are not unmanaged installations. They are pharmacist-governed, remotely monitored, and subject to ongoing compliance review. The responsible pharmacist is named, documented, and accountable.
"What happens if something goes wrong?"
PAS™ provides a documented incident response process, a complete access audit trail, and a named pharmacist responsible for the site. Every event is logged, timestamped, and reviewable.
A structured path to certification
The path to PAS™ certification is structured, supported, and designed to be completed without disrupting your pharmacy's day-to-day operations. Every step is documented.
Discovery Call
30–45 minutesA Med-ID representative discusses your pharmacy's circumstances — script volume, physical space, state regulatory framework, and operating model. This call determines which PAS™-certified system is appropriate and outlines the certification pathway.
Site assessment
On-site visitMed-ID conducts a physical site assessment to confirm installation feasibility, connectivity requirements, and alignment with installation standards. A detailed site report is produced and shared with the pharmacy.
Governance documentation
1–2 weeksMed-ID works with your pharmacy to prepare the required governance documentation: designated pharmacist nomination, standard operating procedures, product acknowledgements, and pharmacist sign-offs. Templates are provided for all documents.
Installation and commissioning
1–2 daysMed-ID installs and commissions the system. Integration with your dispensing system (for PharmaSelf24™) is completed. Staff training is conducted. The system is connected to Med-ID's remote monitoring platform.
Certification assessment
Final reviewMed-ID conducts a final certification assessment against all five criteria. When all criteria are satisfied, the PAS™ mark is granted, the pharmacy receives its certification documentation, and the site is listed as a PAS™-certified installation.
Ongoing certification
ContinuousMed-ID's remote monitoring platform provides continuous operational oversight. Periodic certification reviews are conducted. The PAS™ mark remains valid while certification criteria are maintained — and may be suspended if they are not.
Find out if PAS™ certification is right for your pharmacy
The Discovery Call is free and carries no obligation. A Med-ID representative will discuss your pharmacy's circumstances, assess suitability, and outline the certification pathway — including state-specific regulatory context and implementation timeline.
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