Section 100 of the National Health Act provides for alternative ways of providing a medicine when the usual supply through community pharmacies is unsuitable.
The reasons are numerous and include the cost of storage, requirements for particular controls over dispensing, the need for medical supervision or administration during treatment or constraints on patient access to community pharmacies. However, these medications must still meet the criteria for listing such as clinical and cost effectiveness.
There are several programs funded under this provision including:
- Highly Specialised Drugs Program
- Efficient Funding of Chemotherapy Program
- Botulinum Toxin Program
- Growth Hormone Program
- IVF Program
- Opioid Dependence Treatment Program
- Take Home Naloxone Program