PDL’s Pharmacists’ Liabilities Insurance Master Policy (PDL Master Policy) provides cover for the day-to-day professional services of pharmacists as permitted by the Pharmacy Board of Australia and relevant state and federal regulatory and legislative requirements, subject to any specific policy 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.
| Professional indemnity | Public Liability | Products Liability | |
| Cover | Civil 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 Damage | Civil 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 | $500,000 | N/A | N/A |
| Abuse and/ or Molestation Defence Costs | $500,000 | N/A | N/A |
| Vaccine Efficacy Legal Fees | $250,000 | N/A | N/A |
| Loss of Documents | $250,000 | N/A | N/A |
| Public Relations Costs | $50,000 | N/A | N/A |
| Court Attendance Costs | $1,000 per day $25,000 for all claims in the aggregate | N/A | N/A |
| Basis of Cover | Claims Made | Claims Made | Claims Made |
| Retroactive Date | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Territorial Limit | Worldwide Excluding USA / Canada | Worldwide Excluding USA / Canada | Worldwide Excluding USA / Canada |
| Jurisdictional Limit | Australia | Australia | Australia |
| Additional Benefits | |||
| Continuous Cover | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Court Attendance Costs | ✓ | N/A | N/A |
| Fraud and Dishonesty | ✓ | N/A | N/A |
| Good Samaritan Acts | ✓ | N/A | N/A |
| Inquiries and Proceedings | ✓ | N/A | N/A |
| Locum Tenens | ✓ | N/A | N/A |
| Loss of Documents | ✓ | N/A | N/A |
| Abuse and/ or Molestation Defence Costs | ✓ | N/A | N/A |
| Practice Entity | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Practice Staff | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Public Relations | ✓ | N/A | N/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/A | N/A |
| Teaching, Publications, Expert Opinion Reports | ✓ | Conferences, Training, Teaching | Conferences, Training, Teaching |
| Temporary Leave of Absence subject to policy terms and conditions | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Vicarious Liability for Students, Consultants, Agents and Contractors | ✓ | Including Locum Tenens | Including Locum Tenens |
| Volunteer Services < 60 days for approved countries | ✓ | N/A | N/A |
PDL confirmed that the PDL Master Policy provides automatic cover for PDL members who supply Schedule 3 vaping products following the regulatory changes made on 1 October 2024.
As a component of the 2025 Master Policy renewal process, PDL would like to add the following information. The PDL Master Policy provides cover under the professional indemnity benefit for civil liability claims alleging breach of professional duty and/or inquiry legal costs arising from the supply of vaping products. The policy requires that the PDL member is appropriately trained and qualified (through suitable self-directed or accredited education and training activities) and authorised (through compliance with regulations and directions of regulatory agencies). The PDL member should make all reasonable attempts to comply with all relevant published professional and government protocols such as regulations, directives, standards and guidelines.
The PDL Master Policy does not provide cover for vaping products under the Public and Products Liability section of the policy.
The Master Policy defines vaping products as a vaping device, whether or not containing nicotine or medicinal cannabis, for the purpose of managing smoking cessation or nicotine dependence, or for administration of medicinal cannabis for a therapeutic purpose.
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:
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.
Join over 36,000 pharmacist members and enjoy peace of mind with market-leading Professional Indemnity (PI) insurance and risk management advice. Proudly supporting Australia’s pharmacists since 1912.
Membership is open to registered pharmacists, interns and students in Australia.
Underwritten by
Claims made cover is a type of insurance that provides coverage for claims you first become aware of during the policy period, and you notify the insurer during the policy period, regardless of when the incident that led to the claim occurred.
It is the maximum amount payable for any one claim, and the maximum amount for all claims notified during the policy period, under each section of the policy.
The PDL Master Policy has been developed to meet the specific insurance needs of individual pharmacists and complies with the Pharmacy Board of Australia’s requirements for Professional Indemnity (PI) insurance arrangements under the National Law. It is your responsibility to ensure that you always practise within your scope and in alignment with the PDL Master Policy. You can refer to the PDL Master policy for further guidance.
If you would like to confirm whether PDL will cover your new role, please call us on 1300 854 838. Depending on the role, we may need to refer the matter to our underwriters (Guild Insurance) for confirmation.
The policy is designed to protect pharmacists, pharmacy students and interns for activities performed within their recognised scope of practice. This includes professional duties such as dispensing and supplying medicines, providing clinical advice, conducting medication reviews, administering vaccinations and delivering health programs approved for pharmacy practice. Coverage applies to these activities when carried out in accordance with regulatory standards and professional guidelines.
If you would like to confirm whether PDL will cover your activities and services, please call us on 1300 854 838
Our Professional Officers are qualified pharmacists available to assist with confidential, one-to-one advice.
