Step 5: Communication of PBAC outcomes

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) secretariat gives you verbal advice of the PBAC decision on your application on the first Wednesday after the PBAC meeting, and written advice 15 working days after the PBAC meeting.  PBAC outcomes are published on the Departments website 6 weeks after the PBAC meeting.  Public summary documents (PSDs) are also published to the Departments website.  You will have an opportunity to comment on the PSDs before they are published.  Dates for all of these activities can be found in the PBS Calendar. 

• If the PBAC makes a recommendation to list, the drug or medicinal preparation is usually included on the agenda for consideration at the next Pharmaceutical Benefits Pricing Authority (PBPA) meeting. 
• If required, the Restrictions Working Group (RWG) meets to further discuss the restrictions made by the PBAC, to ensure the restriction reflects the intention of the PBAC recommendation.
• The Chair of the PBAC and a National Prescribing Service representative also attend the post-PBAC RWG meetings.
• If the PBAC does not make a recommendation to list, the applicant may re-submit with new or additional information.
• Independent review is also available where the PBAC did not make a recommendation to list; and in certain circumstances where the PBAC did not recommend the listing of an additional indication for an already-listed drug on the PBS.  Further information on the eligibility requirements for independent review is contained at: Information for Applicants Seeking Review PBS. 
• There is no temporal advantage or disadvantage between independent review and a resubmission to the PBAC.

You can find contact details for the PBAC, PBPA and RWG on the PBS Contacts page