About PBS approved suppliers

About PBS approved suppliers

The PBS is an Australian Government program that subsidises the cost of approved medicines. It operates under the National Health Act 1953 (Act). The Act regulates the prescribing, pricing and subsidising of approved medicines. The Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits lists these subsidised medicines. 

Under the Act, a pharmacist, medical practitioner or hospital authority can apply to become a PBS approved supplier. An approved supplier has the authority to provide PBS medicines. 

We manage PBS approved suppliers. This includes: 

• processing and approving applications to become a PBS approved supplier
• updating PBS approved supplier information
• hosting and running the PBS Approved Suppliers portal
• providing secretariat support to the Australian Community Pharmacy Authority. 

Pharmacists

For pharmacists, we manage applications to:

• establish or relocate an approved pharmacy
• change ownership of an approved pharmacy  
• change the size of an approved pharmacy

We also manage:

• changes to contact and bank details of an approved pharmacy.
• requests for Ministerial discretion  
• deactivation or cancellation of a pharmacist's approval
• authorisation for a person to act on behalf of an approved pharmacist
• temporary emergency relocations. 

Medical practitioners

For medical practitioners, we manage: 

• applications to become an approved supplier
• registration of or changes to banking details. 

Hospital authorities 

For hospital authorities, we manage: 

• applications to become an approved supplier
• authorisation for a pharmacist to act for a hospital authority
• registration of or changes to banking details. 

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