Items Exempt from Statutory Price Reductions - 1 May 2024

Page last updated: 7 May 2024

Section 84AH of the National Health Act 1953 provides that the Minister may determine, by legislative instrument, that a pharmaceutical item is an ‘exempt item’ if the pharmaceutical item satisfies the criteria set out in that section of the Act.

Where a pharmaceutical item is determined to be an exempt item, that pharmaceutical item is excluded from fifteen year Anniversary Price, first new brand and price disclosure reductions. Exempt items are not exempt from five and ten year Anniversary Price reductions. The intention of this provision is to encourage the availability of certain pharmaceutical items with particular formulations of drugs that are used by a demographic subgroup (e.g. children or geriatric patients) for whom other formulations of the drug are not suitable.

Note: New items exempt from statutory price reductions for this month are in bold italics.

Items exempt from statutory price reductions

Drug

Form

Manner of administration

AMISULPRIDE

Oral solution 100 mg per mL, 60 mL

Oral

AMOXICILLIN

Powder for paediatric oral drops  100 mg (as trihydrate) per mL, 20 mL

Oral

ARTEMETHER with LUMEFANTRINE

Tablet (dispersible) 20 mg-120 mg

Oral

ATENOLOL

Oral solution 50 mg in 10 mL, 300 mL

Oral

AZITHROMYCIN

Powder for oral suspension 200 mg (as dihydrate) per 5 mL, 15 mL

Oral

CAPTOPRIL 

Oral solution 5 mg per mL,  95 mL

Oral

CARBAMAZEPINE

Oral suspension 100 mg per 5 mL,  300 mL

Oral

CICLOSPORIN

Oral liquid 100 mg per mL, 50 mL

Oral

CICLOSPORIN

Capsule 10 mg

Oral

CICLOSPORIN

Solution concentrate for I.V. infusion 50 mg in 1 mL

Injection

CIPROFLOXACIN

Ear drops 3 mg (as hydrochloride) per mL, 5 mL

Application to the ear

CLARITHROMYCIN

Powder for oral liquid 250 mg per 5 mL, 50 mL

Oral

CLONAZEPAM

Oral liquid 2.5 mg per mL, 10 mL

Oral

CLONAZEPAM

Injection 1 mg in 2 mL (set containing solution 1 mg in 1 mL and 1 mL diluent)

Injection

DIAZEPAM

Oral liquid 10 mg per 10 mL, 100 mL

Oral

DICLOFENAC

Suppository containing diclofenac sodium 100 mg

Rectal

DIGOXIN

Paediatric oral solution 50 micrograms per mL,  60 mL

Oral

ESCITALOPRAM

Oral solution 20 mg (as oxalate) per mL, 15 mL

Oral

ETHOSUXIMIDE

Oral solution 250 mg per 5 mL, 200 mL

Oral

FLUCONAZOLE

Powder for oral suspension 50 mg in 5 mL, 35 mL

Oral

FUROSEMIDE

Oral solution 10 mg per mL, 30 mL  

Oral

GLYCERYL TRINITRATE

Sublingual spray (pump pack) 400 micrograms per dose, 200 doses

Sublingual

INDOMETACIN

Suppository 100 mg

Rectal

MERCAPTOPURINE

Oral suspension containing mercaptopurine monohydrate 20 mg per mL, 100 mL

Oral

METHADONE

Injection containing methadone hydrochloride 10 mg in 1 mL

Injection

METRONIDAZOLE

Suppositories 500 mg, 10

Rectal

METRONIDAZOLE

Oral suspension containing metronidazole benzoate 320 mg per 5 mL, 100 mL

Oral

NAPROXEN

Oral suspension 125 mg per 5mL, 474 mL

Oral

NEVIRAPINE

Oral suspension 50 mg (as hemihydrate) per 5 mL, 240 mL

Oral

ONDANSETRON

Syrup 4 mg (as hydrochloride dihydrate) per 5 mL, 50 mL

Oral

OXYBUTYNIN

Transdermal patches 36 mg, 8

Transdermal

OXYCODONE

Oral solution containing oxycodone hydrochloride 1 mg per mL, 1 mL

Oral

PANTOPRAZOLE

Sachet containing granules 40 mg (as sodium sesquihydrate)

Oral

PARACETAMOL

Oral liquid 120 mg per 5 mL, 100 mL

Oral

PARACETAMOL

Oral liquid 240 mg per 5 mL, 200 mL

Oral

PARACETAMOL

Suppository 500 mg

Rectal

PROCHLORPERAZINE

Injection containing prochlorperazine mesilate 12.5 mg in 1 mL

Injection

SALBUTAMOL

Oral solution 2 mg (as sulfate) per 5 mL, 150 mL

Oral

SALBUTAMOL

Pressurised inhalation in breath actuated device 100 micrograms (as sulfate) per dose, 200 doses (CFC-free formulation)

Inhalation by mouth

TERBINAFINE

Cream containing terbinafine hydrochloride 10mg per g, 15g

Application

TOFACITINIB

Oral solution 1 mg per mL, 240 mL

Oral

TRAMADOL

Oral drops containing tramadol hydrochloride 100 mg per mL, 10 mL

Oral

VALGANCICLOVIR

Powder for oral solution 50 mg (as hydrochloride) per mL, 100mL

Oral

VALPROIC ACID

Tablet, crushable, containing sodium valproate 100 mg

Oral

VALPROIC ACID

Oral liquid containing sodium valproate 200 mg per 5mL, 300 mL

Oral

VALPROIC ACID

Oral solution containing sodium valproate 200 mg per 5mL, 300 mL

Oral

VORICONAZOLE

Powder for oral suspension 40 mg per mL, 70 mL

Oral