Section 19A medicines subsidised by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme

Page last updated: 2 December 2024

In the event of a medicine shortage, a provision under section 19A of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 allows for temporary approvals to be granted for the import or supply of a brand of medicine that is not registered on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods, which could act as a substitute for the medicine that is unavailable or in short supply. A list of section 19A medicines approved for supply are available on the TGA website.

Where possible, the Australian Government works with medicine sponsors to organise PBS subsidised access to section 19A medicines.

Provided below is a list of section 19A medicines currently subsidised by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Applying for PBS listing of section 19A product

If the brand, drug, form, manner of administration and responsible person of the section 19A medicine are all the same as the PBS listed product in short supply, then the section 19A medicine is a ‘pharmaceutical benefit’ as defined in the National Health Act 1953 and may be subsidised under the existing PBS listing. The responsible person of a section 19A medicine must be the sponsor for whom the TGA approval is granted. Please note that the list below does not include section 19A medicines that are subsidised in this way and have not been considered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee.

Where the brand, drug, form, manner of administration and responsible person of the section 19A medicine are not all the same as the PBS listing in short supply, sponsors need to submit an application in writing to PBS Pricing (s19A.PBS@health.gov.au) and PBAC (PBAC@health.gov.au) to list the item on the PBS.

For any extension or renewal of a current or lapsed s19A product, the sponsor is required to submit a new application for PBAC consideration. The sponsor must complete and submit all necessary forms for the renewal or extension to PBS Pricing and PBAC to ensure the item is listed on the PBS.

Application should consist of the PBS forms:

  • Part C of the Application Form for Submission Services
  • PB11 – Application to list
  • PB11a – Request for Approved Ex-manufacturer Price
  • PB11b – Cost of goods information
  • Notification of Responsible Person Form
  • Copy of TGA section 19A approval
  • Copy of Product Information sheet

There are no cost recovery fees associated with the temporary listing of a section 19A item.

In addition to listing section 19A medicines to manage medicine shortages, the Department also works to implement PBS subsidy arrangements for TGA issued Serious Scarcity Substitution Instruments. Further information is available at PBS subsidy arrangements for medicines subject to a Serious Scarcity Substitution Instrument.

List of Section 19A products subsidised by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme

Section 19A medicine

Section 19A Responsible person

TGA Section 19A approval

Date PBS listed 

Notes

Clonazepam Tablets, USP 2 mg (Advagen Pharma, USA)
Tablet 2 mg

Link Medical Products Pty Ltd

Clonazepam Tablets, USP 2mg (Advagen Pharma, USA)

1 December 2024

Ezetimibe tablets, USP 10 mg (Camber, USA)®
Tablet 10 mg

Reach Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd

Ezetimibe Tablets, USP 10mg (Camber, USA)

1 December 2024

OVIDREL (USA)
Solution for injection 250 micrograms in 0.5 mL pre-filled syringe (S19A)

Merck Healthcare Pty Ltd

OVIDREL choriogonadotropin alfa 250 mcg / 0.5mL solution for injection pre-filled syringe (USA)

1 November 2024

Estramon 37.5 (Germany)
Transdermal patches 585 micrograms, 24 (S19A)

Medsurge Healthcare Pty Ltd

ESTRAMON estradiol 37.5 microgram/24 hours transdermal patch (Germany)

1 November 2024

This product is NOT a-flagged to Estradot 37.5 and Estradiol Transdermal System (Sandoz, USA)

Estramon 50 (Germany)
Transdermal patches 780 micrograms, 24 (S19A)

Medsurge Healthcare Pty Ltd

ESTRAMON estradiol 50 microgram/24 hours transdermal patch (Germany)

1 November 2024

This product is NOT a-flagged to Estradot 50 and Estraderm MX 50

Estramon 75 (Germany)
Transdermal patches 1.17 mg, 24 (S19A)

Medsurge Healthcare Pty Ltd

ESTRAMON estradiol 75 microgram/24 hours transdermal patch (Germany)

1 November 2024

This product is NOT a-flagged to Estradot 75 and Estradiol Transdermal System (Sandoz, USA)

Estramon 100 (Germany
Transdermal patches 1.56 mg, 24 (S19A)

Medsurge Healthcare Pty Ltd

ESTRAMON estradiol 100 microgram/24 hours transdermal patch (Germany)

1 November 2024

This product is NOT a-flagged to Estradot 100, Estradiol Transdermal System (Sandoz, USA) and Estraderm MX 100

Timolol (Brown & Burk, UK)
Eye drops 5 mg (as maleate) per mL, 5 mL (S19A)

Link Medical Products Pty Ltd

Timolol 0.5% w/v eye drops solution (Brown and Burk, UK)

1 November 2024

Emtricitabine and Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate 200mg/300mg Tablets (Laurus Labs, USA)
Tablet containing tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg with emtricitabine 200 mg (S19A)

Phero Pharma Pty Ltd

Emtricitabine and Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate 200mg/300mg Tablets (Laurus Labs, USA)

1 October 2024

Timoptol-LA 0.5% (Santen Oy, Finland)
Eye drops (gellan gum solution) 5 mg (as maleate) per mL, 2.5 mL - (Timoptol-LA) (S19A)

Link Medical Products Pty Ltd

TIMOPTOL-LA timolol 0.5% w/v gel-forming eye drops solution (UK)

1 October 2024

Azithromycin (Zydus, USA)
Powder for oral suspension 200 mg (as dihydrate) per 5 mL, 15 mL (s19A)

Medsurge Healthcare Pty Ltd

Azithromycin powder for oral suspension, USP 200mg per 5 mL (600mg/15mL) (Zydus, USA)

1 September 2024

CLAVULIN-125F (GlaxoSmithKline, Canada)
Powder for oral suspension containing 125 mg amoxicillin (as trihydrate) with 31.25 mg clavulanic acid (as potassium clavulanate) per 5 mL, 100 mL (S19A)

Medsurge Healthcare Pty Ltd

CLAVULIN-125F amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium oral suspension 125mg/31.25mg per 5mL (Canada)​

1 September 2024

Timoptol XE 0.50% (South Africa)

Eye drops (gellan gum solution) 5 mg (as maleate) per mL, 2.5 mL (S19A)

Link Medical Products Pty Ltd

TIMOPTOL XE 0.50 timolol 5mg/mL sterile ophthalmic gellan solution (South Africa)

1 August 2024

Permethrin Cream 5% w/w (Encube Ethicals, USA)

Cream 50 mg per g, 60g (S19A)

Reach Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd

Permethrin cream 5% w/w (Encube Ethicals, USA)

1 August 2024

This product is not a-flagged to Lyclear

Octreotide Acetate Omega (Canada)

Injection 50 micrograms (as acetate) in 1 mL (S19A)

Generic Health Pty Limited

Octreotide Acetate Omega 50mcg/mL solution for injection single use vials (Canada)

1 July 2024

Octreotide Acetate Omega (Canada)

Injection 100 micrograms (as acetate) in 1 mL (S19A)

Generic Health Pty Limited

Octreotide Acetate Omega 100mcg/mL solution for injection single use vials (Canada)

1 July 2024

Octreotide Acetate Omega (Canada)

Injection 500 micrograms (as acetate) in 1 mL (S19A)

Generic Health Pty Limited

 

Octreotide Acetate Omega 500mcg/mL solution for injection single use vials (Canada)

1 July 2024

RA -MORPH (NZ)

Oral solution containing morphine hydrochloride trihydrate 5 mg per mL, 1 mL (S19A)

Bridgewest Perth Pharma Pty Ltd

RA-MORPH morphine hydrochloride trihydrate 5mg/mL oral solution (NZ)

1 July 2024

RA-MORPH (NZ)

Oral solution containing morphine hydrochloride trihydrate 10 mg per mL, 1 mL (S19A)

Bridgewest Perth Pharma Pty Ltd

RA-MORPH morphine hydrochloride trihydrate 10mg/mL oral solution (NZ)

1 July 2024

Extencilline Benzathine Benzylpenicillin (France)

Benzathine benzylpenicillin Powder for injection 1,200,000 units with diluent 5 mL (S19A)

ORSPEC Pharma Pty Ltd

EXTENCILLINE benzathine benzylpenicillin 1.2 Million IU, powder and solvent for suspension for IM injection (France)

1 June 2024

Estradiol Transdermal System (Sandoz, USA)


Estradiol Transdermal patches 585 micrograms, 

Sandoz Pty Ltd

Estradiol Transdermal System 37.5mcg/day (0.0375mg/day) (Sandoz, USA

1 June 2024

Estradiol Transdermal System (Sandoz, USA)

Estradiol Transdermal patches 1.17 mg, 8

Sandoz Pty Ltd

Estradiol Transdermal System 75mcg/day (0.075mg/day) (Sandoz, USA)

1 June 2024

Estradiol Transdermal System (Sandoz, USA)

Estradiol Transdermal patches 1.56 mg, 8

Sandoz Pty Ltd

Estradiol Transdermal System 100mcg/day (0.1mg/day) (Sandoz, USA)

1 June 2024

Cholestyramine (Ascend, USA)

Colestyramine Powder for oral suspension 4 g (S19A)

Pharmacor Pty Limited

Cholestyramine for oral suspension, USP light powder 4g pouch (Ascend, USA)

1 May 2024

Ethosuximide Essential Generics (UK)

Ethosuximide Capsule 250 mg (s19A)

Clinect Pty Ltd

Ethosuximide Essential Generics 250 mg Capsules (UK)

1 April 2024

PMS-Hydromorphone

Oral solution containing hydromorphone hydrochloride 1 mg per mL, 1 mL (S19A) (Pharmascience)

Medsurge Healthcare Pty Ltd

PMS-HYDROMORPHONE hydromorphone hydrochloride 1 mg/mL oral syrup (Pharmascience)

1 March 2024

This product is NOT a-flagged to Hikma or Hydromorphone hydrochloride oral solution, USP (Medsurge)

Morphine

Oral solution containing morphine hydrochloride trihydrate 10 mg per mL, 1 mL (S19A)

Medsurge Healthcare Pty Ltd

MORPHINI HCL STREULI morphine hydrochloride 10mg/mL oral drops (Switzerland)

1 March 2024

This product is a-flagged to Ordine 10 in the Schedule for General and Palliative Care listings.

pms-SALBUTAMOL

Nebuliser solution 2.5 mg (as sulfate) in 2.5mL single dose units, 20 (S19A)

Medsurge Healthcare Pty Ltd

PMS-SALBUTAMOL salbutamol sulphate inhalation solution, BP 1mg/1mL (2.5mg/2.5mL) (Canada)

 

01 February 2024

Adefovir Dipivoxil Tablets 10 mg (SigmaPharm Laboratories)

Adefovir, Tablet containing adefovir dipivoxil 10 mg (S19A)

Arrotex Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd

Adefovir dipivoxil tablets 10 mg (SigmaPharm Laboratories)

01 December 2023

Morphine Oral Solution (Martindale Pharma) 10 mg/5 mL 

Morphine, Oral solution containing morphine sulfate 10 mg per 5 mL in 100 mL bottle, 1 mL (S19A)

Link Medical Products Pty Ltd

Morphine sulfate 10 mg/5 mL oral solution (Martindale Pharma)

01 December 2023

This product is a-flagged to Ordine 2 in the Schedule for General listings. There is no a-flagging for Palliative Care listing. 

Morphine Oral Solution (Martindale Pharma) 10 mg/5 mL

Morphine, Oral solution containing morphine sulfate 10 mg per 5 mL in 300 mL bottle, 1 mL (S19A) 

Link Medical Products Pty Ltd

Morphine sulfate 10 mg/5 mL oral solution (Martindale Pharma)

01 December 2023

This product is a-flagged to Ordine 2 in the Schedule for General listings. There is no a-flagging for Palliative Care listing. 

Morphine Sulfate (Hikma) 10 mg/5 mL (2 mg/mL) 

Morphine, Oral solution containing morphine sulfate 2 mg per mL in 100 mL bottle, 1 mL (S19A) 

Medsurge Healthcare Pty Ltd

Morphine sulfate 2 mg/mL oral solution (Hikma)

01 December 2023

This product is a-flagged to Ordine 2 in the Schedule for General listings. There is no a-flagging for Palliative Care listing. 

Morphine Sulfate (Hikma) 10 mg/5 mL (2 mg/mL) 

Morphine, Oral solution containing morphine sulfate 2 mg per mL in 500 mL bottle, 1 mL (S19A)

Medsurge Healthcare Pty Ltd

Morphine sulfate 2 mg/mL oral solution (Hikma)

01 December 2023

This product is a-flagged to Ordine 2 in the Schedule for General listings. There is no a-flagging for Palliative Care listing. 

Zinnat (UK)

Cefuroxime Powder for oral suspension 125 mg (as axetil) per 5 mL, 70 mL (S19A)

Reach Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd

ZINNAT Cefuroxime axetil 125 mg/5 mL granules for oral suspension (UK)

01 October 2023

This product is not a-flagged to Zinnat
 

Rythmodan (Canada)

Capsule containing disopyramide 100 mg (s19A)

ORSPEC Pharma Pty Ltd

RYTHMODAN disopyramide 100mg Capsules BP (Canada)

1 June 2023

 

Nardil (Canada)

Tablet 15 mg (as sulfate) s19A

Medsurge Healthcare Pty Ltd

NARDIL phenelzine sulfate tablets USP, 15mg (Canada)

1 November 2022

TNKase (Canada)

Powder for injection 50 mg with solvent (s19A)

Pro Pharmaceuticals Groups Pty. Ltd.

TNKASE Tenecteplase 50mg powder for solution kit (Canada)

1 October 2022

Imipramine (Leading)

Tablet containing imipramine hydrochloride 25 mg (s19A),

Pro Pharmaceuticals Group Pty. Ltd.

Imipramine Hydrochloride Tablets, USP, 25mg 100 tablets (Leading Pharma, LLC)

1 July 2022

Mycobacterium bovis (Bacillus Calmette and Guerin (BCG)) Danish 1331 strain

Single dose pack containing powder for irrigation 30 mg, 4 vials

Link Medical Products Pty Ltd

BCG Vaccine SSI - Mycobacterium bovis BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin), Danish strain 1331 (AJ Vaccines) with Diluted Sauton SSI

 

1 April 2022

 

Chorionic gonadotrophin

Injection set containing powder for injection 1,500 units, 3 and solvent 1 mL, 3 (s19A)

Medsurge Healthcare Pty Ltd

BREVACTID 1500 I.E. choriongonadotropin (chorionic gonadotropin) powder and solvent for solution for injection

1 March 2022

 

Chorionic gonadotrophin

Powder for injection 5,000 units with solvent (s19A)

Medsurge Healthcare Pty Ltd

CHORIOMON 5000 I.E gonadotropinum chorionicum (hCG, human chorionic gonadotropin) freeze-dried powder and solvent for the preparation of the solution for injection

1 March 2022

 

Hydromorphone

Oral solution containing hydromorphone hydrochloride 1 mg per mL, 473 mL 

Link Medical Products Pty Ltd 

HYDROMORPHONE HYDROCHLORIDE ORAL SOLUTION 1mg/mL USP 473mL (Hikma)

 

1 December 2021

A-flagged to s19A medicine HYDROmorphone Hydrochloride 1mg/mL oral solution, USP 473mL (Rhodes) and NOT a-flagged to Dilaudid.

Hydromorphone

Hydromorphone, oral solution containing hydromorphone hydrochloride 1 mg per mL, 473 mL

Medsurge Healthcare Pty Ltd

HYDROmorphone Hydrochloride 1mg/mL oral solution, USP 473mL (Rhodes)

1 July 2021

This product is not a-flagged to Dilaudid.

Desmopressin

Nasal spray (pump pack) containing desmopressin acetate 10 micrograms per actuation, 50 actuations, 5 mL, USP (Apotex)

Medsurge Healthcare Pty Ltd

Desmopressin Nasal Spray 10mcg/0.1mL (Apotex)

1 June 2021

 

Clozapine

Oral liquid 50 mg per mL, 100 mL

Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd

VERSACLOZ (clozapine) 50 mg/mL oral suspension (TruPharma)

1 August 2018

Naloxone

Injection containing naloxone hydrochloride 2 mg in 2 mL pre-filled syringe

Phebra Pty Ltd

PRENOXAD 1mg/mL Solution for Injection in a pre-filled syringe (naloxone hydrochloride)

1 April 2017

 

Auranofin

Capsule 3 mg

Boucher & Muir Pty Ltd

RIDAURA auranofin 3mg capsules (Canada)

1 October 2017

 

Phenoxybenzamine

Phenoxybenzamine, capsules containing phenoxybenzamine hydrochloride 10 mg, 30

Amdipharm Mercury (Australia) Pty Limited

PHENOXYBENZAMINE 10 mg Capsules - 30 Capusles (UK) 

1 March 2016

Honey Bee Venom

Injection set containing 550 micrograms with diluent

Stallergenes Australia Pty Ltd

Hymenoptera Venom Product - Honey Bee Venom (550mcg) powder for solution

1 February 2016

 

Paper Wasp Venom

Injection set containing 550 micrograms with diluent

Stallergenes Australia Pty Ltd

HYMENOPTERA VENOM PRODUCT - Wasp Venom Protein (550 MCG) powder for solution

1 February 2016

 

Yellow Jacket Venom

Injection set containing 550 micrograms with diluent

Stallergenes Australia Pty Ltd

HYMENOPTERA VENOM PRODUCT - Yellow Jacket Venom Protein (550 MCG) powder for solution

1 February 2016