News
Improving health literacy and educating health professionals about safer medicine use
$37.5 million investment to improve consumer health literacy and support health professional education to promote the safe and effective use of medicines.
The handbook of tools to support medicine management in multimorbidity and polypharmacy is now available
We commissioned the University of South Australia to develop a handbook of tools to support medicine management in multimorbidity and polypharmacy.
Australians benefit from freeze to maximum cost of PBS medicines
The Australian Government has launched an advertising campaign to raise awareness about a freeze on the maximum patient cost of PBS medicines, a key measure to help ease the cost of medicines.
Registrations now open for the National Medicines Symposium 2024
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has opened registrations for the National Medicines Symposium 2024.
The Quality Use of Diagnostics, Therapeutics and Pathology (QUDTP) Program – Grant opportunities now open
Applications are now open for the QUDTP grant opportunities for the Health Professional Education and Consumer Health Literacy streams.
Consumer Health Literacy and Health Professional Education Grant Opportunity Forum presentation
Learn about the forum we hosted for stakeholders interested in the Consumer Health Literacy or Health Professional Education Grant Opportunity.
Stakeholder Forum – Health Professional Education and Consumer Health Literacy
We are hosting a Quality Use of Diagnostics, Therapeutics and Pathology (QUDTP) Program Stakeholder Forum on 22 April 2024. The forum will discuss 2 grant opportunities for Health Professional Education and Consumer Health Literacy. Register your interest today.
More medicines available for 60-day prescriptions
On 1 March 2024 the range of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines available for 60-day prescriptions expanded. This will give more Australians twice the medication on a single prescription.
New Australian Clinical Trials website
We have upgraded and refreshed the Australian Clinical Trials website. Learn more about the new site.
Medicines just got cheaper
Selected Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines can now be prescribed for a 60-days for the price of a single prescription. This means many Australians who have a stable, ongoing health condition can now save money on their regular medication.
Lower medicine costs for chronic health conditions
Under the first stage of the 60-day dispensing policy, eligible Australians living with chronic health conditions will have access to 92 cheaper Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines.
More medicine, for less
The Australian Government is making hundreds of medicines cheaper by allowing millions of Australians to buy two months’ worth of medicine for the price of a single prescription.
Statement on 60-day medicine dispensing
A statement from Australia's acting Chief Medical Officer, Professor Michael Kidd, responding to reports in the media about 60-day medicine dispensing.
Save more on Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines
From 1 January 2023, the maximum price of most PBS medicines for non-concessional patients was reduced from $42.50 to $30. Don’t delay buying your PBS Medicines.
Therapeutic Goods Administration Adj. Professor John Skerritt's interview on ABC Radio National on 9 January 2023
Read the transcript of Therapeutic Goods Administration Adjunct Professor John Skerritt's interview with Hamish Macdonald on ABC Radio National on 9 January 2023.
PBS co-payment reduction – What pharmacists need to know
A lower Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) general co-payment from 1 January 2023 will help ease cost-of-living pressures for Australians. Here’s what pharmacists need to know to support their customers.
World Antimicrobial Awareness Week – 18 to 24 November 2022
World Antimicrobial Awareness Week runs from 18 to 24 November every year with this year’s theme Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance Together. It’s an international initiative to increase awareness of the growing problem of resistance to antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines.
National Cabinet Statement
See the below statement, released following the conclusion of National Cabinet on Saturday 16 July 2022.
Health Funding Facts update
The Australian Government announced a record $503 billion investment in our universal health system in the 2021–22 Budget. We’ve updated our Health Funding Facts tool to use the latest figures. Find out more about our key investment areas.
Affected by floods? Help is available
If you've been affected by the floods in New South Wales and Queensland there are a range of services you can access to stay on top of your health needs.
Soliris® (eculizumab) available on PBS from 1 March 2022
The program that subsidises Soliris® for patients with a rare condition called paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) is changing. Until now, we have subsidised Soliris® under the Life Saving Drugs Program. From 1 March 2022, this will change to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
Have your say on a proposed National Medicines Traceability Framework
We are about to open a consultation about a potential National Medicines Traceability Framework (NMTF) for PBS medicines. If you are an industry participant of the medicine supply chain in Australia, you can take part. Find out how you can get involved and make a submission.
World Antimicrobial Awareness Week – 18 to 24 November 2021
Read about World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) 2021. The theme for this year is ‘Spread Awareness: Stop Resistance’.
Review of the Guiding principles for medication management in residential aged care facilities and in the community
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Carewill lead a review and update of the guiding principles for medication management in residential aged care facilities and in the community to support the safe and quality use of medicines.
New PBS listings for multiple sclerosis, asthma and diabetes medicines
The Australian Government has listed a range of medicines for treating multiple sclerosis, asthma and diabetes on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). The listings will provide valuable support for more than 51,800 Australians living with these conditions, saving them up to $29,000 a year.
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