Public Hospital Pharmaceutical Reforms - Changes

What changes will take place in public hospitals - access to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and Access to Chemotherapy Pharmaceuticals

The Australian Government has offered to extend the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) into public hospitals for certain patients.

Access to the PBS

Public hospitals that take up the reforms will be able to prescribe PBS medication to outpatients and patients upon discharge. These patients will be given up to one month's supply of medication. Patients will have a choice to have their PBS medication dispensed at the hospital pharmacy, community pharmacy or in some cases at another public hospital that is participating in the reforms.

Where a patient's PBS prescription is written by a community GP the prescription will not be able to be dispensed at a hospital pharmacy. The hospital may charge a patient copayment for non-admitted and discharge patients. The amount of copayment will be the same as PBS prescriptions dispensed by a community pharmacy.

Access to chemotherapy pharmaceuticals

Chemotherapy Pharmaceuticals Access Program Supplement (PDF 206 KB)

If you are having trouble accessing the above PDF please contact pbd webmaster@health.gov.au for a copy to be sent to you.

A range of chemotherapy drugs are available for day admitted and non-admitted patients in public hospitals. Chemotherapy pharmaceuticals available under this program are listed in the Chemotherapy Pharmaceuticals Access Program supplement to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule. The chemotherapy supplement is updated in April, August and December each year.

Admitted public hospital day patients receiving drugs under this arrangement will not have to pay a copayment for their chemotherapy drugs. However, these patients may be charged copayments for medicines dispensed on discharge or received as an outpatient.