PBS contacts
PBS Contacts for Health Professionals
- Department of Health and Aged Care
- Services Australia
- Authority Prescription Applications
- Department of Veterans’ Affairs
- Therapeutic Goods Administration
- Telephone Interpreter Service
- Poisons Information Centres
- Palliative Care
Department of Health and Aged Care
Contact the Department of Health and Aged Care PBS Information Line if you require information on:
- The PBS, co-payments and the PBS Safety Net
- Budget announcements and other recent PBS policy initiatives
- Listing and Pricing processes of the PBS including Listing and Pricing Committees
- Alternatives arrangements for medicines supplied under Section 100 of the National Health Act 1953 and other special supply programs.
- Publications relevant to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Telephone 1800 020 613 Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5.00pm (AEST). This service is closed for Australia-wide public holidays.
Contact the Department of Health and Aged Carevia email: pbs@health.gov.au.
Services Australia
Services Australia administers the PBS. This includes the processing of pharmaceutical benefits and safety net claims, authority applications and supply of PBS stationery.
Telephone: General and IME enquiries 132 290
Website: www.servicesaustralia.gov.au
Authority Prescription Applications
Authority required (STREAMLINED)
Authority required (STREAMLINED) items no longer require prior approval from Services Australia or DVA (except where increased quantities and/or repeats are required). When prescribing a streamlined authority item the specific streamlined authority code must be written on the authority prescription.
For more information:
See Explanatory Notes or The Authority Required (STREAMLINED) Fact Sheet
Or contact:
Services Australia
Phone: 1800 888 333
Mail:
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
GPO Box 9826
in your capital city
Authority required
Prior approval is required to prescribe all “Authority required” items or requests for increased quantities and/or repeats.
Mail Applications
REPLY PAID No. 9857
PBS Authorities Section
Services Australia
GPO Box 9857
In your capital city
Telephone Applications 24 hours
Telephone: 1800 888 333
For telephone applications please have the following information available:
Patient:
Medicare number
Surname
First name
Full residential address (including postcode)
PBS Authority Prescription Number:
Top right hand side of Authority Form
Your Prescriber Number:
Located below your address block on the personalised forms
Drug Information:
PBS item
Quantity required and number of repeats
Daily dose
Disease or purpose information
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Applications for authority to prescribe under the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS) should be sent to the Veterans' Affairs Pharmaceutical Approvals Centre (VAPAC) using the free postal service:
REPLY PAID No. 9998
VAPAC (Veterans' Affairs Pharmaceutical Approvals Centre)
GPO Box 9998
BRISBANE QLD 4001
A 24 hour telephone service is available for RPBS enquiries and telephone approvals:
Telephone: 1800 552 580
The introduction of the streamlined authority process will not change the way in which RPBS items are prescribed.
Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
Information on reporting adverse drug reactions
Telephone: 1800 044 114
Requests for Drugs via the Special Access Scheme (SAS)
Requests by a doctor for individual patient approval to obtain drugs that are available only through the SAS must be directed to the Drug Safety and Evaluation Branch, Therapeutic Goods Administration, telephone (02) 6232 8111, facsimile (02) 6232 8112, or by mail to PO Box 100 Woden ACT 2606.
List of Contact Officers for Recalls of Therapeutic Goods
For details of consumer level recalls only
Telephone: 1800 020 512
The TGA website contains a list of state and territory health department representatives (recall co-ordinators) and other stakeholder groups who may be notified of recalls by the TGA.
Telephone Interpreter Service
A 24-hour telephone service is available,
Telephone: 131 450.
The translating service can provide immediate assistance over the telephone or arrange for an interpreter to go to a location specified in either city or country areas. This service has access to over 2000 professional interpreters, covering over 100 languages and dialects.
Poisons Information Centres
A 24-hour telephone service is available for information and advice on the treatment of poisoning, bites and stings,
Telephone: 131 126
Travelling Overseas with PBS Medicine
Travelling with PBS medicine enquiry line on 1800 500 147 (call charges may apply).
Palliative Care
The National Palliative Care Program is funded by the Australian Government to improve access to, and quality of, palliative care services in Australia and is consistent with the goals of the National Palliative Care Strategy. More information can be obtained by emailing Palliative Care: palliativecare@health.gov.au
CareSearch
CareSearch is an online resource of palliative care information and evidence. All materials included in the care Search website are reviewed for quality and relevance.
Residential Aged Care Facilities
Residential Aged Care Facilities have particular needs and challenges in providing care for residents approaching the end of life. Specific resources, guidelines and tools may assist in the delivery of palliative care in residential aged care settings.
Palliative Care Australia
Palliative Care Australia (PCA) is the national peak body for Palliative Care in Australia. PCA are undertaking a range of projects under the National Palliative Care Program. Its site also includes contacts for state and territory member organisations.
For enquiries relating to the PBS website, contact the PBS website manager.
