Listings on the PBS for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Page last updated: 17 January 2024

The Australian Government is committed to improving the capability of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) to better meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee is assisting this goal by evaluating and recommending the listing of medications specifically to help with the health needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

This list details all PBS items that are limited for prescription to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. For more information about PBS access by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, see Improving the capacity of the PBS to meet particular Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health needs, or contact us at pbs-indigenous@health.gov.au.

 

Authority Required (STREAMLINED)
5817 Whipworm infestation
Population criteria:
Patient must be an Aboriginal or a Torres Strait Islander person.

9047E ALBENDAZOLE, albendazole 200 mg chewable tablet, 6 (Zentel)

 

Restricted benefit
For treatment of a patient identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander

8202Q ASPIRIN, aspirin 100 mg tablet, 112 (Spren 100)

 

Restricted benefit
Constipation
Clinical criteria:
Patient must be paraplegic or quadriplegic or have severe neurogenic impairment of bowel function.
Restricted Benefit
Constipation
Clinical criteria:
Patient must be receiving palliative care.
Restricted Benefit
Constipation
Clinical criteria:
Patient must be receiving long-term nursing care on account of age, infirmity or other condition in a hospital, nursing home or residential facility.
Population criteria:
Patient must identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
Restricted Benefit
Constipation
Clinical criteria:
Patient must be receiving long-term nursing care and in respect of whom a Carer Allowance is payable as a disabled adult.
Population criteria:
Patient must identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
Restricted Benefit
Terminal malignant neoplasia
Population criteria:
Patient must identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
Restricted Benefit
Anorectal congenital abnormalities
Population criteria:
Patient must identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
Restricted Benefit
Megacolon
Population criteria:
Patient must identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

1258F BISACODYL, bisacodyl 10 mg suppository, 12 (Petrus Bisacodyl Suppositories)

1260H BISACODYL, bisacodyl 10 mg suppository, 10 (Dulcolax, Petrus Bisacodyl Suppositories)

 

Restricted Benefit
For treatment of a patient identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander

11112W CHLORAMPHENICOL, chloramphenicol 0.5% eye drops, 10 mL (Chlorsig)

 

Authority Required
Chronic suppurative otitis media
Population criteria:
Patient must be an Aboriginal or a Torres Strait Islander person,
AND
Patient must be aged 1 month or older.

2480M CIPROFLOXACIN, ciprofloxacin 0.3% ear drops, 5 mL (Ciloxan)

 

Restricted Benefit
For treatment of a patient identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander

8985X FERROUS FUMARATE, ferrous fumarate 200 mg (equivalent to 65.7 mg of elemental iron) tablet, 60 (Ferro-tab)

 

Restricted Benefit
For treatment of a patient identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander

9011G FERROUS FUMARATE + FOLIC ACID, ferrous fumarate 310 mg (equivalent to 100 mg elemental iron) + folic acid 350 microgram tablet, 60 (Ferro-f-tab)

 

Restricted benefit
For treatment of a patient identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
Note
The 5 mg strength tablet should be used in malabsorption states only.

1437P FOLIC ACID, folic acid 5 mg tablet, 100 (Megafol 5)

 

Restricted benefit
For treatment of a patient identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander

2958Q FOLIC ACID, folic acid 500 microgram tablet, 100 (Foltabs 500, Megafol 0.5)

 

Restricted benefit
For treatment of a patient identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander

3107M GLUCOSE AND KETONE INDICATOR URINE, glucose and ketone indicator urine strip: diagnostic, 50 diagnostic strips (Keto-Diastix)

3104J GLUCOSE INDICATOR URINE, glucose indicator urine strip: diagnostic, 50 diagnostic strips (Diastix)

 

Restricted Benefit
Pernicious anaemia
Population criteria:
Patient must identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
Restricted Benefit
Proven vitamin B12 deficiencies other than pernicious anaemia
Population criteria:
Patient must identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
Restricted Benefit
Anaemias associated with vitamin B12 deficiency
Clinical criteria:
Patient must have had a gastrectomy,
AND
The treatment must be for prophylaxis.
Population criteria:
Patient must identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
Note
One injection of hydroxocobalamin 1 mg every three months provides appropriate maintenance therapy in vitamin B12 deficiencies.
Note
Pharmaceutical benefits that have the form hydroxocobalamin injection 1 mg (as acetate) in 1 mL and pharmaceutical benefits that have the form hydroxocobalamin injection 1 mg (as chloride) in 1 mL are equivalent for the purposes of substitution.

2162T HYDROXOCOBALAMIN, hydroxocobalamin 1 mg/mL injection, 3 x 1 mL ampoules (Vita-B12)

9048F HYDROXOCOBALAMIN, hydroxocobalamin 1 mg/mL injection, 3 x 1 mL ampoules (Neo-B12, Hydroxo-B12)

 

Authority required (STREAMLINED)
12604 Human sarcoptic scabies
Clinical criteria:
The condition must be established by clinical and/or parasitological examination.
Population criteria:
Patient must identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander,
AND
Patient must weigh 15 kg or over,
AND
Patient must be 5 years of age or older.

2868Y IVERMECTIN, ivermectin 3 mg tablet, 4 (Stromectol)

 

Authority required (STREAMLINED)
6434 Fungal or yeast infection
Population criteria:
Patient must be an Aboriginal or a Torres Strait Islander person.

9024Y Ketoconazole, ketoconazole 2% cream, 30 g (Nizoral 2% Cream)

9027D Miconazole, miconazole nitrate 2% cream, 30 g  (Daktarin)

9028E Miconazole, miconazole nitrate 2% cream, 70 g (Daktarin)

9029F Miconazole, miconazole nitrate 2% dusting powder, 30 g (Daktarin)

9031H Miconazole, miconazole 2% solution, 30 mL (Daktarin)

9160D Terbinafine, terbinafine hydrochloride 1% cream, 15 g (Lamisil)

 

Authority Required (STREAMLINED)
6364 Diarrhoea
Population criteria:
Patient must be an Aboriginal or a Torres Strait Islander person.

1571Q LOPERAMIDE, loperamide hydrochloride 2 mg capsule, 12 (Gastrex, Gastro-Stop)

 

Authority Required (STREAMLINED)
5506 Hypomagnesaemia
Population criteria:
Patient must be an Aboriginal or a Torres Strait Islander person.
Authority Required (STREAMLINED)
5466 Chronic renal disease
Population criteria:
Patient must be an Aboriginal or a Torres Strait Islander person.

5146W MAGNESIUM, magnesium 37.4 mg tablet, 50 (Mag-Sup, MagMin (PBS))

 

Authority Required (STREAMLINED)
12584 SARS-CoV-2 infection
Clinical criteria:
Patient must have received a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test result; OR
Patient must have received a positive rapid antigen test (RAT) result verified by a medical practitioner,
AND
Patient must have at least one sign or symptom attributable to COVID-19,
AND
Patient must not require hospitalisation at the time of prescribing.
Population criteria:
Patient must identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
Clinical criteria:
Patient must be aged 50 or over and at high risk,
AND
The treatment must be initiated within 5 days of symptom onset.

For the purpose of administering this restriction, high risk is defined as the presence of at least two of the following conditions:

1. The patient has received less than 2 doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine,
2. The patient is in residential aged care or residential disability care,
3. Neurological conditions, including stroke and dementia,
4. Respiratory compromise, including COPD, moderate or severe asthma (required inhaled steroids), and bronchiectasis,
5. Congestive heart failure (NYHA Class II or greater),
6. Obesity (BMI greater than 30kg/m2),
7. Diabetes Types I and II, requiring medication for glycaemic control,
8. Renal failure (eGFR less than 60mL/min),
9. Cirrhosis, or
10. The patient has reduced, or lack of, access to higher level healthcare and lives in an area of geographic remoteness classified by the Modified Monash Model as Category 5 or above.

Details of the patients' medical condition necessitating use of this drug must be recorded in the patients' medical records.
For the purpose of administering this restriction, signs or symptoms attributable to COVID-19 are: fever greater than 38 degrees Celsius, chills, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing with exertion, fatigue, nasal congestion, runny nose, headache, muscle or body aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of taste, loss of smell.
Where PCR is used to confirm diagnosis, the result, testing date, location and test provider must be recorded on the patient record.
Where a RAT is used to confirm diagnosis, the test must be verified by a medical practitioner. The test result, testing date, location and test provider (where relevant) must be recorded on the patient record.
This drug is not PBS-subsidised for pre-exposure or post-exposure prophylaxis for the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection

12910L MOLNUPIRAVIR, molnupiravir 200 mg capsule, 40 (Lagevrio)

 

Authority Required (STREAMLINED)
6647 Staphylococcus aureus infection
Clinical criteria:
Patient must have nasal colonisation with the bacteria.
Population criteria:
Patient must be an Aboriginal or a Torres Strait Islander person.
Note:
No increase in the maximum quantity or number of units may be authorised.
Note:
No increase in the maximum number of repeats may be authorised.

9440W Mupirocin, mupirocin 2% (20 mg/g) ointment, 3 g (Bactroban)

11822F Mupirocin, mupirocin 2% ointment, 5 g (Mupirocin Nasal (Medsurge)

 

Restricted Benefit
Nicotine dependence
Clinical criteria:
The treatment must be the sole PBS-subsidised therapy for this condition.
Population criteria:
Patient must be an Aboriginal or a Torres Strait Islander person.
Note:
Only 2 courses of PBS-subsidised nicotine replacement therapy may be prescribed per 12-month period.
Benefit is improved if used in conjunction with a comprehensive support and counselling program.
Note:
No increase in the maximum quantity or number of units may be authorised.
Note:
No increase in the maximum number of repeats may be authorised.

5571F Nicotine, nicotine 21 mg/24 hours patch, 28 (Nicotinell Step 1)

 

Restricted Benefit
For treatment of a patient identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander

1746X PARACETAMOL, paracetamol 500 mg tablet, 100 (APO-Paracetamol, Febridol, Panamax, Paracetamol (Sandoz), Paracetamol Sandoz Pharma, Paralgin, Parapane, PHARMACY CARE PARACETAMOL, Wagner Health Paracetamol)

5196L PARACETAMOL, paracetamol 500 mg tablet, 100 (APO-Paracetamol, Febridol, Paracetamol (Sandoz), Paracetamol Sandoz Pharma, Paralgin, Parapane, PHARMACY CARE PARACETAMOL, Wagner Health Paracetamol) (Dental)

 

Restricted Benefit
Chronic arthropathies
Population criteria:
Patient must identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

5224Y PARACETAMOL, paracetamol 500 mg tablet, 100 (APO-Paracetamol, Febridol, Panamax, Paracetamol (Sandoz), Paracetamol Sandoz Pharma, Paralgin, Parapane, PHARMACY CARE PARACETAMOL, Wagner Health Paracetamol) (Dental)

8784H PARACETAMOL, paracetamol 500 mg tablet, 100 (APO-Paracetamol, Febridol, Panamax, Paracetamol (Sandoz), Paracetamol Sandoz Pharma, Paralgin, Parapane, PHARMACY CARE PARACETAMOL, Wagner Health Paracetamol)

 

Note
Pharmaceutical benefits that have the form paracetamol 665 mg tablet: modified release, 96 and pharmaceutical benefits that have the form paracetamol 665 mg tablet: modified release, 192 are equivalent for the purposes of substitution.
Restricted Benefit
Persistent pain
Clinical criteria:
The condition must be associated with osteoarthritis.
Population criteria:
Patient must identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

10797G PARACETAMOL, paracetamol 665 mg tablet: modified release, 192 tablets (Osteomol 665 Paracetamol)

8814X PARACETAMOL, paracetamol 665 mg tablet: modified release, 96 tablets (Osteomol 665 Paracetamol, APOHEALTH Osteo Relief Paracetamol 665 mg)

 

Restricted Benefit
For treatment of a patient identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander

1747Y PARACETAMOL, paracetamol 120 mg/5 mL oral liquid, 100 mL (Panamax)

1770E PARACETAMOL, paracetamol 240 mg/5 mL oral liquid, 200 mL (Panamax 240 Elixir)

3348F PARACETAMOL, paracetamol 120 mg/5 mL oral liquid, 100 mL (Panamax) (Dental)

3349G PARACETAMOL, paracetamol 240 mg/5 mL oral liquid, 200 mL (Panamax 240 Elixir) (Dental)

 

Restricted Benefit
Severe eye inflammation
Clinical criteria:
Patient must have had a cataract removed in the treated eye; OR
Patient must be scheduled for cataract surgery in the treated eye.
Population criteria:
Patient must identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

11908R PREDNISOLONE ACETATE + PHENYLEPHRINE, prednisolone acetate 1% + phenylephrine hydrochloride 0.12% eye drops, 10 mL (Prednefrin Forte)

 

Authority Required
Dermatophyte infection
Clinical criteria:
Patient must have failed to respond to topical treatment.
Population criteria:
Patient must be an Aboriginal or a Torres Strait Islander person.

2285G Terbinafine, terbinafine 250 mg tablet, 42 (various brands)

 

Authority Required (STREAMLINED)
5139 Thiamine deficiency
Clinical criteria:
The treatment must be for prophylaxis.
Population criteria:
Patient must be an Aboriginal or a Torres Strait Islander person.

1070H THIAMINE, thiamine hydrochloride 100 mg tablet, 100 (Betavit)

 

Authority Required (STREAMLINED)
14319 Thiamine deficiency
Clinical criteria:
The condition must be stable for the prescriber to consider the listed maximum quantity of this medicine suitable for this patient.
And:
The treatment must be for prophylaxis.
Population criteria:
Patient must be an Aboriginal or a Torres Strait Islander person.

13354W THIAMINE, thiamine hydrochloride 100 mg tablet, 100 (Betavit)

 

Restricted benefit
For treatment of a patient identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
Note:
Each sachet contains sodium chloride 470 mg, potassium chloride 300 mg, sodium acid citrate 530 mg and glucose 3.56 g.

3196F SODIUM CHLORIDE + POTASSIUM CHLORIDE + GLUCOSE MONOHYDRATE + CITRATE, sodium chloride 470 mg + potassium chloride 300 mg + glucose monohydrate 3.56 g + sodium acid citrate 530 mg oral liquid: powder for, 10 x 4.9 g sachets (O.R.S)