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Midwife PBS prescribing

PHARMACEUTICAL BENEFITS WHICH MAY BE PRESCRIBED BY AUTHORISED MIDWIVES

Midwives endorsed to prescribe under state or territory legislation can apply for approval as PBS prescribers (authorised midwives).  Information for midwives to become authorised PBS prescribers is available from Services Australia.

The pharmaceutical benefits listed for prescribing by authorised midwives are identified by ‘MW’ in the PBS Schedule. Midwives must not issue PBS prescriptions for pharmaceutical benefits that do not specify ‘MW’ in the listing.

PBS prescribing by midwives is limited by scope of practice, adherence to professional practice standards as set by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, and state or territory prescribing rights. It is also contingent on a prescriber being an authorised midwife  as required by the National Health Act 1953.

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) is responsible for making recommendations to the Minister for Health and Aged Care regarding which medicines will attract a PBS subsidy when prescribed by authorised midwives.

Some medicines are included in more than one section of the Schedule and for more than one prescriber type. For a prescription to be eligible for subsidy, authorised midwives must ensure that they prescribe under the PBS listing that specifies ‘MW’ and in accordance with any restrictions specified in that listing. Listing details for the same product may differ between sections of the Schedule and different PBS item codes apply for each prescriber type.

Midwife PBS prescriptions are identifiable by colour and include the indicator ‘MW’ on personalised forms and a tick box on non-personalised (blank) forms. Prescriptions must include the midwife’s PBS prescriber number. For unrestricted and restricted PBS medicines, midwives can use the personalised or non-personalised PBS prescriber forms.  For authority required and authority required (streamlined) PBS medicines, midwives can use the authority personalised or non-personalised PBS prescriber forms. Midwife PBS prescriptions may include repeats. 

Regulation 49 applies for midwife prescribing. A midwife can direct that original and repeat supplies of pharmaceutical benefits be supplied at the one time, if certain conditions are satisfied.

Authority prescriptions: Authority prescriptions for authority required items, or for increased quantities or repeats, require prior approval from Services Australia for each prescription. (Refer to Prescribing Medicines — Information for PBS prescribers for more information on authority prescriptions.)

State and territory requirements: Midwives may prescribe medicines as non-PBS (private) prescriptions provided that any prescribing is within the midwife’s scope of practice and any limitations declared through state or territory law.  The medicines which can be prescribed differ between states and territories. It is the midwife’s responsibility to ensure adherence to state/territory law for all prescriptions (PBS and private) and additionally to all PBS requirements for PBS prescriptions.

  • Legend
  • MPMedical Practitioner
  • MWMidwife
  • NPNurse Practitioner
  • OPOptometrist
Prescriber code Item code Name, manner of administration and form & strength Max qty
packs 		Max qty
units 		No. of
repeats
MPMWNP 1884E AMOXICILLINamoxicillin 250 mg capsule, 20 1 20 0
MPMWNP 1889K AMOXICILLINamoxicillin 500 mg capsule, 20 1 20 0
MPMWNP 1891M AMOXICILLIN + CLAVULANIC ACIDamoxicillin 500 mg + clavulanic acid 125 mg tablet, 10 1 10 0
MPMWNP 1775K BENZYLPENICILLINbenzylpenicillin 600 mg injection, 1 vial 10 10 1
MPMWNP 11963P CEFALEXINcefalexin 250 mg capsule, 20 2 40 0
MPMWNP 3058Y CEFALEXINcefalexin 250 mg capsule, 20 1 20 0
MPMWNP 11934D CEFALEXINcefalexin 500 mg capsule, 20 2 40 0
MPMWNP 3119E CEFALEXINcefalexin 500 mg capsule, 20 1 20 0
MPMWNPOP 11112W CHLORAMPHENICOLchloramphenicol 0.5% eye drops, 10 mL 1 1 2
MPMWNP 3138E CLINDAMYCINclindamycin 150 mg capsule, 24 2 48 1
MPMWNP 1302M DICLOFENACdiclofenac sodium 100 mg suppository, 20 2 40 3
MPMWNP 8121K DICLOXACILLINdicloxacillin 250 mg capsule, 24 1 24 0
MPMWNP 8122L DICLOXACILLINdicloxacillin 500 mg capsule, 24 1 24 0
MPMWNP 8487Q ETONOGESTRELetonogestrel 68 mg implant, 1 1 1 0
MPMWNP 1526H FLUCLOXACILLINflucloxacillin 250 mg capsule, 24 1 24 0
MPMWNP 1527J FLUCLOXACILLINflucloxacillin 500 mg capsule, 24 1 24 0
MPMWNP 1440T FRAMYCETIN SULFATEframycetin sulfate 0.5% eye/ear drops, 8 mL 1 1 2
MPMWNP 3192B IBUPROFENibuprofen 400 mg tablet, 30 1 30 0
MPMWNP 2913H LEVONORGESTRELlevonorgestrel 30 microgram tablet, 112 tablets [4 x 28] 1 4 2
MPMWNP 2530E LINCOMYCINlincomycin 600 mg/2 mL injection, 5 x 2 mL vials 1 5 0
MPMWNP 11380Y LINCOMYCINlincomycin 600 mg/2 mL injection, 5 x 2 mL ampoules 1 5 0
MPMWNP 1206L METOCLOPRAMIDEmetoclopramide hydrochloride 10 mg/2 mL injection, 10 x 2 mL ampoules 1 10 0
MPMWNP 1207M METOCLOPRAMIDEmetoclopramide hydrochloride 10 mg tablet, 25 1 25 0
MPMWNP 10211K MIFEPRISTONE (&) MISOPROSTOLmifepristone 200 mg tablet [1] (&) misoprostol 200 microgram tablet [4], 1 pack 1 1 0
MPMWNP 10864T MORPHINEmorphine hydrochloride trihydrate 10 mg/mL injection, 5 x 1 mL ampoules 1 5 0
MPMWNP 1644M MORPHINEmorphine sulfate pentahydrate 10 mg/mL injection, 5 x 1 mL ampoules 1 5 0
MPMWNP 1645N MORPHINEmorphine sulfate pentahydrate 15 mg/mL injection, 5 x 1 mL ampoules 1 5 0
MPMWNP 1693D NITROFURANTOINnitrofurantoin 100 mg capsule, 30 1 30 1
MPMWNP 1692C NITROFURANTOINnitrofurantoin 50 mg capsule, 30 1 30 1
MPMWNP 12598C PROGESTERONEprogesterone 200 mg pessary, 42 1 42 3
MPMWNP 12465C PROGESTERONEprogesterone 200 mg pessary, 15 3 45 3
MPMWNP 1978D RANITIDINEranitidine 150 mg tablet, 60 1 60 5