PDL Master Policy

PDL's Pharmacists' Liabilities Insurance Master Policy

PDL’s Pharmacists’ Liabilities Insurance Master Policy (PDL Master Policy) is underwritten by Guild Insurance Limited. All active members of PDL are afforded cover under this policy subject to the policy’s terms and conditions and any individual conditions that the underwriter places on an individual member’s cover. The cover provided by the PDL Master Policy is on a claims made basis meaning that you will be covered for claims first made against you during the period of cover regardless of when the incident that gave rise to the claim occurred, subject to the retroactive date and excluding known circumstances – please refer to the policy wording for full details. The PDL Master Policy provides cover for all pharmacy professional services as permitted by the Pharmacy Board of Australia (PBA) and relevant state and federal regulatory and legislative requirements subject to any specific policy Terms, Conditions and Exclusions. The PDL Master Policy is subject to terms, conditions and exclusions. It is important that you review the Policy Wording to understand what you are covered for in the event of a claim. If you are an existing member, you can log in and download a copy of the Policy Wording from the links below, otherwise please contact us on 1300 854 838 or email us at info@pdl.org.au to obtain a copy.


 Professional indemnityPublic LiabilityProducts Liability
CoverCivil Liability in respect of any claim as a result of a breach of professional duty in the provision of Professional Services including: Your actual or alleged unintentional:a. defamation, libel or slander;
b. unlawful discrimination;
c. breach of Australian Consumer Law
d. infringement of any copyright, trademark, registered design or patent;
e. breach of any duty of confidentiality
f. breach of any privacy legislation		Civil Liability in respect of any claim for Bodily Injury of Property DamageCivil Liability in respect of any claim for Bodily Injury of Property Damage
Limit of Liability$20,000,000$20,000,000$20,000,000
Aggregate Limit$60,000,000$60,000,000$20,000,000
Inquires & Proceedings$500,000N/AN/A
Abuse and/ or Molestation Defence Costs$500,000N/AN/A
Vaccine Efficacy Legal Fees$250,000N/AN/A
Loss of Documents$250,000N/AN/A
Public Relations Costs$50,000N/AN/A
Court Attendance Costs$1,000 per day
$25,000 for all claims in the aggregate		N/AN/A
Basis of CoverClaims MadeClaims MadeClaims Made
Retroactive DateUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited
Territorial LimitWorldwide Excluding USA / CanadaWorldwide Excluding USA / CanadaWorldwide Excluding USA / Canada
Jurisdictional LimitAustraliaAustraliaAustralia
 Additional Benefits
Continuous Cover✓✓✓
Court Attendance Costs✓N/AN/A
Fraud and Dishonesty✓N/AN/A
Good Samaritan Acts✓N/AN/A
Inquiries and Proceedings✓N/AN/A
Locum Tenens✓N/AN/A
Loss of Documents✓N/AN/A
Abuse and/ or Molestation Defence Costs✓N/AN/A
Practice Entity✓✓✓
Practice Staff✓✓✓
Public Relations✓N/AN/A
Reinstatement of Limit of Liability✓✓X
Run-off Cover (for members who retire or permanently cease to practice – not applicable to students)✓✓✓
Spousal Liability✓N/AN/A
Teaching, Publications, Expert Opinion Reports✓Conferences, Training, TeachingConferences, Training, Teaching
Temporary Leave of Absence subject to policy terms and conditions✓✓✓
Vicarious Liability for Students, Consultants, Agents and Contractors✓Including Locum TenensIncluding Locum Tenens
Volunteer Services < 60 days for approved countries✓N/AN/A

The PDL Master Policy provides cover for members involved in the administration of the COVID-19 vaccination so long as all relevant published professional and government approved training and protocols are complied with. Given that the general legal position in Australia regarding the efficacy of a vaccine product, or whether it is fit for purpose, is the responsibility of the manufacturer, the policy does not provide any cover in relation to the effectiveness of a vaccine administered, including:

  • failure of the vaccine to produce the intended result; or
  • any adverse outcome or side-effect caused by the vaccine itself

However, the policy does include an Efficacy Defence Costs additional benefit to provide PDL members with peace of mind. This cover is designed to protect members from speculative actions by third parties attempting to wrongly draw pharmacists in to a claim that should properly be pursued against the vaccine manufacturers. This benefit provides up to $250,000 legal costs associated with defending and investigating a claim regarding the effectiveness of a vaccine that is administered by a PDL member.

The PDL Master Policy is designed to cover individual pharmacists for the work that they do as an employee. It also provides cover to individuals who operate under a business structure for the purpose of providing their professional services.

In recent years, pharmacists are increasingly providing services under an ABN or changing business structures due to dynamic employment circumstances (such as locuming, aged care settings, etc.) and scope changes. PDL has also seen some confusion from accredited pharmacists who assume they have PDL cover when they operate under a company structure with several pharmacists as Directors.

Members who are providing services under an ABN must ensure that they are appropriately covered for their work. It is the responsibility of the pharmacist to make sure that they have disclosed all relevant details. If they have not disclosed services via an ABN Entity to PDL, please contact us to discuss coverage.


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Pharmaceutical Defence Limited (PDL) acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the Elders past and present.