Bankruptcy or external administration of a pharmacy

What you need to know

Please notify us in cases of: 

• bankruptcy of an approved pharmacist
• external administration of an approved pharmacy. 

Under section 91B of the National Health Act 1953, a trustee for a bankrupt pharmacist, or an external administrator of a bankrupt pharmacy, can apply for permission to continue supplying PBS medicines for a limited time. This period is usually until the trustee or administrator sells the pharmacy or we cancel approval to supply PBS medicines. 

We will only give the administrator permission to continue (or resume) operating the pharmacy to ensure the community has access to PBS medicines. 

The trustee or administrator must submit a separate application form for each pharmacy premises they are seeking permission for under section 91B of the Act. 

If the bankrupt pharmacist is a member of a partnership, do not apply to continue supplying PBS medicines under section 91B unless all members of the partnership are bankrupt. 

How to apply

Before applying for permission to continue to supply PBS medicines, please contact us as we may need to prevent payments for supplies of PBS medicines from being made into the wrong bank account. You will need to provide evidence of the appointment of the trustee or administrator. 

To apply for permission to continue to supply PBS medicines the trustee or administrator must: 

1. Complete the Application for permission to supply pharmaceutical benefits following bankruptcy or external administration form.
2. Provide evidence of the appointment of the trustee or administrator.
3. Advise the relevant state or territory pharmacy authority of the appointment of the trustee or administrator.
4. Submit the form and any related documents through the PBS Approved Suppliers Portal. 

For more information on how to lodge your form see How to upload forms or additional requested information. 

Please contact us with enquiries or if you need help completing the form. 

Please do not email your form to us.  

Once you have permission to continue to supply PBS medicines, you can:

• change the bank account details for the approved pharmacy
• authorise pharmacist(s) to sign claim forms on behalf of section 91/91B permission holder.

See our Privacy policy to find out how we manage the information you provide in PBS approved supplier forms and the PBS Approved Suppliers Portal.