ABC Pharmacy in Newcastle West must vacate its premises before December 1, when its lease ends. 

It is owned and operated by pharmacist Nick Bakarich, who also runs a similar business at Hamilton South. 

The doorstop pharmacies are the only type of their kind in the state, solely dedicated to dispensing methadone to more than 200 people. 

Mr Bakarich, who opened at Newcastle West in 2010 and Hamilton South in 2013, says a state legislation change in 2013 prevents any new business like his from opening. 

READ MORE: Cap on methadone limits Newcastle pharmacist

Businesses opened before the change could remain operating at their existing locations, however the law prevents an existing business from moving to a different property, as it is deemed a “new” pharmacy. 

Unaware of the technicality of the legislation, Mr Bakarich says he purchased another building late last year to relocate his store. 

He has since had to apply for an exceptional circumstances exemption to relocate but is yet to gain approval from NSW Health.

“This location supports the finance for the entire operation. If it closes it will result in closure of all of our facilities and the doctor’s surgery housed on site,” he said.

“Illicit drug users would be returned to street drug use. This would be a crisis.”

Mr Bakarich argues that a regular pharmacy that needs to move can apply to the Pharmacy Council and gain approval. 

But there is no such process for his business and he has to gain an exemption from the health secretary.  

A NSW Health spokesperson said the department was “committed to providing drug and alcohol services that meet the needs of patients and their families”.

“This includes ensuring patients can access opioid treatment in their communities. 

“Should a pharmacy close down, the Ministry of Health and the relevant local health district will work together to make arrangements to ensure there is no disruption to patient care. 

“In Newcastle, patients can access opioid treatment services from a range of pharmacies or public health facilities.” 

Many of ABC Pharmacy’s patients will gather for a protest in Newcastle on Sunday to voice their concerns. 

Sally*, a 34-year-old from Singleton, says if the pharmacy does close it would be a “horrible” outcome. She has used the dedicated pharmacy for five years to recover from her opiate addiction.

She says she does not want to return to the public clinic as it could be a place where she might be enticed into drugs by those who are not as far along in their methadone use. 

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“It would just cause a headache for me and a lot of other people if Nick was to close his doors,” she said. 

“Every other place will be clogged up straight away, making it harder for people who don’t know where to go.

“But it’s also going to cause stress on the community. It’s going to cause havoc.” 

Sally says there is significant worry for users in visiting a regular pharmacy.

“People can look down on you in a big way because some people who are on methadone do stuff up in other areas,” she said.

“So that reflects on you, but it’s also because people don’t know enough. 

“Having the privacy of coming to a place that just deals with that, that you can come in and out of easily, is a good benefit.” ​

NSW Health said applications for exemption are considered on their merits and the Ministry of Health was unable to comment on specific applications.

Mr Bakarich says his model “changes lives” and takes “people away from illicit drug use and crime so they can be reintegrated into the community”.