Medicines
Medicines help to prevent, treat or cure disease. Some are available over the counter, others need a doctor’s prescription. Find out what we’re doing to make sure medicines in Australia are safe, good quality and do what they say they will do.
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Medicines in Australia
There are 3 types of medicines in Australia:
Australians can access medicines that treat less serious conditions and include lower risk ingredients, such as some complementary medicines, from supermarkets, health food shops or pharmacies.
For medicines that carry a higher risk, such as over-the-counter medicines and prescription medicines, you need to first speak with a pharmacist or get a prescription from a doctor.
It’s important that you understand the medicines you take, including:
- keeping track of what you are taking
- how to read and understand the medicine label
- how to use them correctly
- what to do if you have a problem with or a side effect to a medicine
- how to dispose of medicines you no longer need.
Medicines are an important part of how we prevent and treat conditions and diseases, so they need to be safe and effective for everyone.
What we’re doing about medicines
We regulate medicines through the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). We:
- assess medicines for safety and quality
- make sure medicines do what they say they will do
- publish information about approved products in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods
- monitor medicines after they have been approved to make sure they continue to meet safety and quality standards, and do what they say they will do
- take action if there is an issue with a medicine – such as recall a medicine, or suspend or remove it from the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods.
We also subsidise the cost of many prescription medicines through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and the Life Saving Drugs Program. This means Australians can get the more of medicines they need at a more affordable price.
You can view the medicines available under the PBS in the Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits. We regularly update the schedule with new listings and the latest changes.
Key policy
National medicines policy
Our national medicines policy aims to provide all Australians with:
- access to the medicines they need, when they need them and at a cost they can afford
- medicines that are of high quality, safe and do what they say they will do
- medicines that are used only when needed, for the right reasons, and in the right way
- a competitive medicines industry.
Initiatives and programs
Biosimilar awareness initiative
Some pharmaceutical companies make medicines that are very similar to existing biological medicines. These are known as biosimilar medicines and they are usually cheaper.
This initiative aims to help you understand and have confidence in biosimilar medicines.
Laws
About the Australian therapeutic goods legislation
The Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 and its set of regulations and orders helps the TGA decide what medicines can be sold in Australia. Find out more about the laws that apply to medicines.
Resources
National strategy for quality use of medicines
This strategy aims to make the best possible use of medicines to improve health for all Australians. Quality use of medicines means:
- deciding on medicines wisely (recognising there may be better ways to manage some conditions)
- choosing suitable medicines
- using medicines safely and effectively.