Active ingredient prescribing

The Active ingredient prescribing (AIP) initiative helps ensure consistent information about prescription medicines is used when health practitioners prescribe and dispense medicines for their patients.

On 1 January 2023, the ongoing maintenance of the AIP initiative transitioned to us from the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.

We have developed resources to support prescribers' decision-making when prescribing by active ingredient name. These resources are derived from resources previously developed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.

If you require assistance with the AIP initiative (including any requests for us to consider medicines for addition in the List of Excluded Medicinal Items (LEMI) or the List of Medicines for Brand Consideration (LMBC), please email us.  

About the initiative

AIP is part of a wider government initiative to ensure consistent information about prescription medicines. Learn more about the program and why it is important.

Active and inactive ingredients

Learn about what is, and what is not an active ingredient in prescription medicines.

When AIP applies

Active ingredient prescribing (AIP) is mandatory for prescription medication listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule (PBS) and the Repatriation Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits (RPBS).

The LEMI and LMBC

The List of Excluded Medicinal Items (LEMI) and the List of Medicines for Brand Consideration (LMBC) help support prescribers to prescribe medicines by the active ingredient with best practice guidance for specification of brand.

Latest resources

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