Medicines eligible to be supplied
Ready-prepared medicines that are in section 2 of the PBS Schedule at the time of consultation are eligible, except for:
- medicines on the section 100 item list, including highly specialised drugs
- repatriation medicines
- emergency drug (prescriber bag) supplies
- Schedule 8 controlled drugs as defined by the relevant state or territory legislation.
To find out about ordering medicines under the program, see how the Remote Area Aboriginal Health Services Program works.
Made-to-order medicines in section 4 of the PBS Schedule are not eligible.
Suppliers eligible to supply medicines
Approved community pharmacies and hospital authorities can supply medicines under this program. They must be authorised to supply PBS medicines under section 90 or 94 of the National Health Act 1953.
Community pharmacies can:
- act as local supply points for medicines
- provide valuable services to remote communities, such as information about medicines and medication reviews.
Health services eligible to dispense medicines
Aboriginal health services (AHSs) can include:
- Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs)
- remote services run by state or territory governments.
To be eligible, an AHS must:
- have a primary aim of meeting the health care needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- employ or have a contract with health professionals who are qualified under relevant state or territory legislation to dispense all medicines covered by this program
- agree that these health professionals will direct the dispensing of the medicines
- comply with state or territory requirements when prescribing, dispensing, storing and securing medicines.
Your AHS, or the clinic or other facility from which you will dispense medicines to patients, must:
- be in an eligible Rural, Remote and Metropolitan Area (RRMA) – RRMA 6 or RRMA 7
- have storage facilities that will:
- prevent access by unauthorised people
- maintain the quality (such as chemical and biological stability and sterility) of the medicines
- comply with any special conditions outlined by the manufacturer of the medicines.
If your AHS is eligible, find out how to apply.
You can also find out more about how the Remote Area Aboriginal Health Services Program works.
Patients eligible to receive medicines
Indigenous and non-indigenous patients of approved AHSs can receive free medicines under this program.
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