Prescribing of Authority Required Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Medicines

Issue

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) policy for prescribers to obtain approval to prescribe medicines for which authority is required under the PBS.

Response

In Australia, the PBS assists with meeting the cost of prescription medicines.

More than 4,500 brands of medicines are listed on the PBS. A large majority, over 80 per cent, do not require prior authority from the Department of Human Services to approve them for prescription.

PBS Authority requirements for individual medicines are based on recommendations from an independent statutory committee called the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC).

The PBAC recommendations are carefully targeted to ensure the most appropriate clinical, safe and cost-effective (value-for-money) use of PBS medicines, including expensive medicines, such as cancer medicines.

The requirements for authority to prescribe greater quantities of opioid medications, for example, recognises that these medicines are addictive, and the dangers to the whole community if these medicines are widely available.

Any changes for the need to seek authority on individual medicines can be submitted to the PBAC for consideration at any time.

Further information on processes to seek PBS authority approvals can be found on the Department of Human Services website.