Contact the Department of Health and Ageing PBS Information Line if you require information on:
Telephone 1800 020 613 Monday to Friday from 8.30AM to 5.00PM New South Wales (AEST/AESST) time. This service is closed for Australia-wide public holidays.
or
Contact the Department of Health and Ageing via email at pbs@health.gov.au .
For enquiries relating to the PBS website itself, you can contact the website manager directly via email at pbs.webmaster@health.gov.au
Addresses — Medicare Australia
Medicare Australia administers the PBS. This includes the processing of pharmaceutical benefits and safety net claims, authority applications and supply of PBS stationery.
Telephone
General and IME enquiries 132 290
Or visit
Website— www.medicareaustralia.gov.au
Email— pbs@medicareaustralia.gov.au
Pharmaceutical Benefits Branch
130 George Street
Parramatta NSW 2150
Orange Service Centre
189 Anson Street
Orange NSW 2800
Pharmaceutical Branch
Level 10
595 Collins Street
Melbourne Vic 3000
Pharmaceutical Services Branch
143 Turbot Street
Brisbane Qld 4000
Pharmaceutical Services Branch
209 Greenhill Road
Eastwood SA 5063
Pharmaceutical Benefits Branch
11th Floor, Bankwest Tower
108 St George's Terrace
Perth WA 6000
Pharmaceutical Branch
242 Liverpool Street
Hobart Tas 7000
Pharmaceutical Benefits Branch
Medicare Australia
134 Reed Street
Tuggeranong ACT 2900
Telephone— (02) 6124 6333
Authority required (STREAMLINED) items no longer require prior approval from Medicare Australia or DVA (except where increased quantities and/or repeats are required). When prescribing a streamlined authority item the specific streamlined authority code must be written on the authority prescription.
For more information:
or
The Authority Required (STREAMLINED) Fact Sheet
Or contact:
Medicare Australia
Phone 1800 888 333
Mail
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
GPO Box 9826
in your capital city
Email
pbs@medicareaustralia.gov.au
Prior approval is required to prescribe all “Authority required” items or requests for increased quantities and/or repeats.
REPLY PAID No. 9857
PBS Authorities Section
Medicare Australia
GPO Box 9857
In your capital city
Telephone 1800 888 333
For telephone applications please have the following information available:
Patient:
Medicare number
Surname
First name
Full residential address (including postcode)
PBS Authority Prescription Number:
Top right hand side of Authority Form
Your Prescriber Number:
Located below your address block on the personalised forms
Drug Information:
PBS item
Quantity required and number of repeats
Daily dose
Disease or purpose information
Applications for authority to prescribe under the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS) should be sent to the Veterans' Affairs Pharmaceutical Approvals Centre (VAPAC) using the free postal service:
REPLY PAID No. 9998
VAPAC (Veterans' Affairs Pharmaceutical Approvals Centre)
Department of Veterans' Affairs
GPO Box 9998
BRISBANE QLD 4001
A 24 hour telephone service is available for RPBS enquiries and telephone approvals:
Telephone 1800 552 580
Departmental pharmacists answer applications for prior approval for non-Schedule items and Authority items.
The introduction of the streamlined authority process will not change the way in which RPBS items are prescribed.
Information on reporting adverse drug reactions
Telephone 1800 044 114
Requests by a doctor for individual patient approval to obtain drugs that are available only through the SAS must be directed to the Drug Safety and Evaluation Branch, Therapeutic Goods Administration, telephone (02) 6232 8111, facsimile (02) 6232 8112, or by mail to PO Box 100 Woden ACT 2606.
For details of consumer level recalls only
Telephone 1800 020 512
The following officers may be contacted:
Office of Devices, Blood and Tissues
Therapeutic Goods Administration
Department of Health and Ageing
PO Box 100
Woden ACT 2606
Mr P K Harrison (02) 6232 8636
Mr T Byrne (02) 6232 8637
ACT Health
GPO Box 825
Canberra ACT 2601
Ms J Strang (02) 6205 0961
Department of Health, NSW
PO Box 103
Gladesville NSW 1675
Mr J E Lumby (02) 9879 3214
Department of Human Services
Drugs and Poisons Unit
GPO Box 1670N
Melbourne Vic 3001
Mr K Moyle 1300 364 545
Mr R Bell 1300 364 545
Queensland Department of Health
GPO Box 48
Brisbane Qld 4001
Drugs:
Mr A Hawkins (07) 3234 0349
Mr C Healey (07) 3234 0960
Therapeutic Devices:
Mr C Healey (07) 3234 0960
Mr D Jones (07) 3406 8068
Drug Policies and Programs
Metropolitan Health Division
South Australian Department of Health
PO Box 287
Rundle Mall SA 5000
Mr W Dollman (08) 8226 7110
Ms E Anear (08) 8226 7387
Health Department of WA
PO Box 8172, Perth Business Centre
Perth WA 6849
Mr M Patterson (08) 9388 4980
Department of Health and Human Services
GPO Box 125B
Hobart Tas 7001
Drugs:
Mr J Galloway (03) 6233 2064
Ms M Sharpe (03) 6233 3766
Therapeutic Devices:
Mr A L Wilkins (03) 6233 3913
Department of Health and Community Sevices
PO Box 40596
Casuarina NT 0811
Ms H Stone (08) 8922 7035
A 24-hour telephone service is available,
Telephone 131 450.
The translating service can provide immediate assistance over the telephone or arrange for an interpreter to go to a location specified in either city or country areas. This service has access to over 2000 professional interpreters, covering over 100 languages and dialects.
A 24-hour telephone service is available for information and advice on the treatment of poisoning, bites and stings,
Telephone 131 126.
The New Children’s Hospital
Hawkesbury Road
Westmead NSW 2148
Tel: (02) 9845 3111
Austin Hospital
Studley Road
Heidelberg Vic 3084
Tel: (03) 9496 4410
Pharmacy Department
Royal Children’s Hospital
Herston Qld 4029
Tel: 131 126
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
Hospital Avenue
Nedlands WA 6009
Tel: 131 126
Tel: 131 126
Tel: 131 126
Tel: 131 126
Drug Information Pharmacist
New South Wales Medicines Information Centre
PO Box 766
Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Tel: (02) 8382 2136
OR
Drug Information Pharmacist
Hunter Drug Information Service
Newcastle Mater Misericordiae Hospital
Locked Bag 7
Hunter Regional Mail Centre NSW 2310
Tel: (02) 4921 1278
Tel: (02) 4921 1328
Drug Information Pharmacist
Austin & Repatriation Medical Centre
Studley Road
Heidelberg Vic 3084
Tel: (03) 9496 5668
OR
Drug Information Pharmacist
Drug Information Centre
Southern Health Care Network
Monash Medical Centre
246 Clayton Road
Clayton Vic 3168
Tel:(03) 9594 2361
Assistant Director of Pharmacy
Queensland Drug Information Ctr
Royal Brisbane Hospital
E Floor, Block 7
Herston Road
Herston Qld 4029
Tel: (07) 3636 7098
(07) 3636 7599
Drug Information Pharmacist
Royal Adelaide Hospital
North Terrace
Adelaide SA 5000
Tel: (08) 8222 5546
OR
Drug Information Pharmacist
Flinders Medical Centre
Bedford Park SA 5042
Tel: (08) 8204 5301
OR
Drug Information Pharmacist
Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Woodville Road
Woodville SA 5011
Tel: (08) 8222 6777
Drug Information Pharmacist
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
Hospital Avenue
Nedlands WA 6009
Tel: (08) 9346 2923
Drug Information Pharmacist
Royal Hobart Hospital
GPO Box 1061L
Hobart Tas 7001
Tel: (03) 6222 8737
Drug Information Pharmacist
Royal Darwin Hospital
PO Box 41326
Casuarina NT 0811
Tel: (08) 8922 8424
Drug Information Pharmacist
Canberra Hospital
Yamba Drive
Garran ACT 2605
Tel: (02) 6244 3333
Level 7, 418A Elizabeth Street
Surry Hills NSW 2010
Tel: 1300 633 424
Fax: (03) 9459 4546
Web: www.nps.org.au
The National Palliative Care Program is funded by the Australian Government to improve access to, and quality of, palliative care services in Australia and is
consistent with the goals of the National Palliative Care Strategy. More information can be obtained by emailing palliativecare@health.gov.au
CareSearch is an online resource of palliative care information and evidence. All materials included in the care Search website are
reviewed for quality and relevance.
Residential Aged Care Facilities have particular needs and challenges in providing care for residents approaching the end of life. Specific resources, guidelines and tools may assist in the delivery of palliative care in residential aged care settings.
Palliative Care Australia (PCA) is the national peak body for Palliative Care in Australia. PCA are undertaking a range of projects under the National Palliative Care Program. Its site also includes contacts for state and territory member organisations.