Despite a last-minute lifeline, loud community backing and plenty of blame to go around, the Collingwood pharmacy shut its doors on Friday.
Despite a last-ditch lifeline and intense community support, the pharmacy at Cohealth’s Collingwood premises officially closed its doors on Friday, 30January.
The pharmacy was being operated under the licence of John Jackson under his own company, Integrated Pharmacy Services. He had been running the 365 Hoddle St service after Cohealth shutdown their pharmacy and counselling services in late December.
It’s believed uncertainty about its future and a lack of GPs on site has affected its viability, with reports of reduced referrals and scripts being processed.
In a last-minute statement, Cohealth said:
“It is with regret we confirm that the Pharmacy at Collingwood, operated by Integrated Pharmacy Services (IPS), will be closing permanently on Friday 30 January 2026.
“Over the past decade, cohealth and IPS, the licensed pharmacist at the Hoddle Street site, have worked to find sustainable ways for the pharmacy service to remain available to the local community. Unfortunately, a long-term solution has not been found,” wrote Cohealth.
It said the pharmacists have been working with clients to transition their medication and support to alternative pharmacies.
“Cohealth is putting in place additional support – including a dedicated phone line and onsite support – to assist remaining clients with help and information about where to go next.
“We regret that we could not communicate sooner to clients about the confirmed closure of the pharmacy,” they wrote.
Members of the Save Our Community Health group say mismanagement and deliberate obstruction from the Cohealth management and board have led to the pharmacy’s closure.
Vera Boston, former CEO of North Yarra Community Health, which merged with Doutta Galla Community Health and the Western Region Health Centre to form Cohealth, said that the closure of the Collingwood Pharmacy was an absolute disgrace.
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“I feel certain that neither the Board nor the senior management of Cohealth has fully appreciated the added value that the pharmacy provides to its many clients,” she said.
“As I was based at the Collingwood Centre for many years I witnessed firsthand the care, understanding and patience which the pharmacists demonstrated in all their interactions. I also know that it was a very cost-effective pharmacy, which saved significant costs for the PBS.”
The Save Our Community Health group was set up after the announcement in October. It comprises several former board members of the predecessor organisations, current and past clients, concerned community members and past staff.
Psychiatrist Dr Brian Stagoll, a co-ordinator of Save Our Community Health, added that: “Cohealth has made the pharmacy unviable in preparation for closing the Collingwood site for sale.
“Their actions included reducing the General Practitioner service then sending lucrative prescriptions to other pharmacies making access more difficult for patients requiring medication for treatment of addiction and mental health disorders,” he said.
“Having run down the GP service which works closely with the pharmacy, Cohealth made the pharmacists redundant just prior to Christmas, then refused to guarantee their access to computers and infrastructure at the Centre to continue the service pending the Commonwealth/state review.”
In addition to shutting down the pharmacy and counselling services and selling 365 Hoddle St by mid-2026, Cohealth also announced in October 2025 that it was removing GP services from its Collingwood, Fitzroy and Kensington locations.
However, the Commonwealth stepped in with $1.5 million to keep GP services running until 31 July 2026 and promised a review into the services. Submissions have now been compiled with a report due by the end of the month.