Better health and ageing for all Australians

Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee

Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC)

This page provides information on the running of the PBAC including information on its subcommittees.

In this section:

Pharmacutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC)
Economics Sub-Committee (ESC)
Drug Utilisation Sub-Committee (DUSC)

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee is an independent statutory body established on 12 May 1954 under section 101 of the National Health Act 1953 to make recommendations and give advice to the Minister about which drugs and medicinal preparations should be made available as pharmaceutical benefits. No new vaccines may be made available through the National Immunisation Program or Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme unless the Committee has so recommended

The Committee is required by the Act to consider the effectiveness and cost of a proposed benefit compared to alternative therapies. In making its recommendations the Committee, on the basis of community usage, recommends maximum quantities and repeats and may also recommend restrictions as to the indications where PBS subsidy is available. When recommending listings, the Committee provides advice to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Pricing Authority (PBPA) regarding comparison with alternatives or their cost effectiveness.

Current PBAC membership

Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee Outcomes and Public Summary Documents

Meeting Dates

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Economics Sub-Committee (ESC) of the PBAC

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) established the ESC in December 1993 under section 101A of the National Health Act 1953 to:

  • review and interpret economic analyses of drugs submitted to the PBAC;
  • advise the PBAC on these analyses; and to
  • advise the PBAC on technical aspects of requiring and using economic evaluations.

    Current ESC membership

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    Drug Utilisation Sub-Committee (DUSC) of the PBAC

    The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) established the DUSC in 1988 under section 101A of the National Health Act 1953 to:

  • collect and analyse data on drug utilisation in Australia for use by the PBAC;
  • make inter country comparisons of drug utilisation statistics; and to
  • assist in generating information relating to rational use and prescribing of medicines.

    The DUSC secretariat is responsible for publishing the Australian Statistics on Medicines on an annual basis.

    Current DUSC Membership