Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits
The Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits
is a Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) publication which is also updated regularly and maintained by the Department.
The Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits is available online via the DoHA website. This Schedule provides information on the arrangements for the prescribing of pharmaceutical benefits by medical practitioners and participating dental practitioners, and the supply of pharmaceutical benefits by approved pharmacists, approved medical practitioners and approved hospital authorities.
For further information regarding the Schedule please contact the Department of Health and Ageing.
Mid schedule amendments to the Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits - effective 1 October 2006
Due to a number of enquires regarding outstanding prescriptions for perindopril and fenofibrate items where bioequivalency has been demonstrated effective from 1 October 2006 . The Department of Health and Ageing have provided further clarification as detailed below.
Perindopril (Coversyl)
Outstanding prescriptions and/or repeats written for perindopril erbumine (3050M, 3051N, 8704D) prior to 1 October 2006 can be supplied after 1 October 2006 with the bioequivalent perindopril arginine item.
Outstanding prescriptions and/or repeats written for perindopril arginine (9006B, 9007C, 9008D) after 1 August 2006 (when listed as PBS benefit) can be supplied after 1 October 2006 with the bioequivalent perindopril erbumine item.
However, as perindopril arginine was listed as a PBS benefit from 1 August 2006 prescriptions for perindopril arginine would have been written as private prescriptions prior to 1 August 2006 and not valid to be supplied with perindopril erbumine after 1 October 2006 .
Fenofibrate (Lipidil)
Outstanding prescriptions and/or repeats written for the existing listings of fenofibrate (8721B, 8722C) prior to 1 October 2006 can be supplied after 1 October 2006 with the bioequivalent fenofibrate item.
Outstanding prescriptions and/or repeats written for the new listings of fenofibrate (9022W, 9023X) after 1 August 2006 (when listed as PBS benefit) can be supplied after 1 October 2006 with the bioequivalent fenofibrate item.
However, as the new listings of fenofibrate were listed as a PBS benefit from 1 August 2006 prescriptions for fenofibrate tablets would have been written as private prescriptions prior to 1 August 2006 and not valid to be supplied with fenofibrate capsules after 1 October 2006 .
Oestradiol (Estradot and Menorest)
Outstanding prescriptions and/or repeats written prior to 1 October 2006 for one item can be supplied after 1 October 2006 with the bioequivalent item.
Estradot and Menorest differ from perindopril arginine and fenofibrate as both have been listed as PBS benefits for some time.
Last updated: 28 May, 2008