{"id":"F2008L04414","name":"National Health Act 1953 - Determination under subsections 85A(1) and (2) and 88(1C) - Prescription of pharmaceutical benefits by authorised Optometrists (No. PB 116 of 2008)","slug":"f2008l04414","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"repealed","isInForce":false,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":326750,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2008L04414-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-08","status":"Repealed","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"National Health Act 1953 - Determination under subsections 85A(1) and (2) and 88(1C) - Prescription of pharmaceutical benefits by authorised Optometrists (No. PB 116 of 2008)","content":"![](image.001.png)\n\nCOMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA\n\nInstrument number PB 116 of 2008\n\nDetermination under subsections 85A(1) and (2) and 88(1C) of the National Health Act 1953\n\nI, DIANA MACDONELL, Acting Assistant Secretary, Pharmaceutical Evaluation Branch, Department of Health and Ageing, delegate of the Minister for Health and Ageing, make this instrument under subsections 85A(1) and (2) and 88(1C) of the National Health Act 1953.\n\nDated 5th November 2008\n\nDIANA MACDONELL\n\nActing Assistant Secretary\n\nPharmaceutical Evaluation Branch\n\nDepartment of Health and Ageing\n\nDetermination — Prescription of pharmaceutical benefits by authorised\n\nOptometrists\n\n1 Commencement\n\nThis instrument commences on 1 December 2008.\n\n2 Repeal\n\nInstrument number PB 78 of 2008 is repealed.\n\n \n3 Definition\n\nIn this instrument:\n\nAct means the National Health Act 1953.\n\n4 Form allowable\n\nFor subsection 85A(1) of the Act, the form of a pharmaceutical benefit mentioned in an item of Schedule 1 that is allowable for prescription by an authorised optometrist is the form mentioned in the description of the pharmaceutical benefit in the item.\n\nNote More than 1 form may have been determined for a pharmaceutical benefit , in which case each form is allowable for prescription: see Acts Interpretation Act 1901, para 23 (b).\n\n5 Maximum quantity or number of units\n\n(1) For paragraph 85A (2) (a) of the Act, the maximum quantity or number of units of a pharmaceutical benefit mentioned in an item of Schedule 1 that an\n\nauthorised optometrist may, in 1 prescription, direct to be supplied on any 1\n\noccasion, either for all purposes or for a particular purpose (if any) mentioned in the item, is the quantity or number of units mentioned in the item.\n\n(2) For this section, the maximum quantity of a pharmaceutical benefit mentioned in an item in Schedule 1 is in the form mentioned in the description of the pharmaceutical benefit in the item.\n\nNote A pharmaceutical benefit may or may not have a pharmaceutical item. The description of a pharmaceutical benefit in an individual item of Schedule 1 makes it clear whether the item relates to a pharmaceutical benefit that has a pharmaceutical item or not.\n\n6 Maximum number of repeats\n\nFor paragraph 85A (2) (b) of the Act, the maximum number of occasions\n\nfor which an authorised optometrist may, in 1 prescription, direct that the\n\nsupply of a pharmaceutical benefit mentioned in an item of Schedule 1 be\n\nrepeated, either for all purposes or for a particular purpose (if any) mentioned in the item, is the number mentioned in the item.\n\n7 Manner of administration\n\nFor paragraph 85A (2) (c) of the Act, the manner of administration of a\n\npharmaceutical benefit mentioned in an item of Schedule 1 that an authorised optometrist may, in a prescription, direct to be used is the manner of administration mentioned in the description of the pharmaceutical benefit in the item.\n\n \n8 Pharmaceutical benefits that may be prescribed by authorised optometrists\n\nFor subsection 88 (1C) of the Act, an authorised optometrist is authorised to write a prescription for the supply of a pharmaceutical benefit that is mentioned in Schedule 1.\n\n9 Particular purpose of supply of a pharmaceutical benefit\n\nFor sections 4 and 5, if there are any particular purposes for which the\n\nsupply of a pharmaceutical benefit may be directed:\n\n(a) those purposes are identified by the purpose code in the item of\n\nSchedule 1 dealing with the particular pharmaceutical benefit; and\n\n(b) the purpose that the purpose code stands for is set out in the lower part\n\nof the item.\n\n```html\n

Pharmaceutical Benefit

Purposes of Supply

Listed drug

Form

Manner of administration

Brand

For all purposes (other than a particular purpose)

For particular purposes (purpose code followed by quantity or number)

Maximum

quantity or

number

Maximum

repeats

Maximum

quantity or number

Maximum

repeats

Aciclovir

Eye ointment 30 mg per g, 4.5 g

Application to the eye

Zovirax

1

..

Carbomer 974

Ocular lubricating gel 3 mg per g, single dose units 0.5 g, 30

Application to the eye

Poly Gel

3

5

Carbomer 980

Ocular lubricating gel 2 mg per g, 10 g

Application to the eye

GelTears

PAA

Viscotears Liquid Gel

1

5

Eye drops 2 mg per g, single dose units 0.6 mL, 30

Application to the eye

Viscotears

3

5

Carmellose

Eye drops containing carmellose sodium 5 mg per mL, 15 mL

Application to the eye

Refresh Tears Plus

1

5

Eye drops containing carmellose sodium 10 mg per mL, 15 mL

Application to the eye

Refresh Liquigel

1

5

Eye drops containing carmellose sodium 2.5 mg per mL, single dose units 0.6 mL, 24

Application to the eye

TheraTears

4

5

Eye drops containing carmellose sodium 5 mg per mL, single dose units 0.4 mL, 30

Application to the eye

Cellufresh

3

5

Eye drops containing carmellose sodium 10 mg per mL, single dose units 0.4 mL, 30

Application to the eye

Celluvisc

3

5

Ocular lubricating gel containing carmellose sodium 10 mg per mL, single dose units 0.6 mL, 28

Application to the eye

TheraTears

3

5

Carmellose with glycerin

Eye drops containing carmellose sodium 5 mg with glycerin 9 mg per mL, 15 mL

Application to the eye

Optive

1

2

Chloramphenicol

Eye drops 5 mg per mL, 10 mL

Application to the eye

Chloromycetin

Chlorsig

1

2

Eye ointment 10 mg per g, 4 g

Application to the eye

Chloromycetin

Chlorsig

1

..

Cromoglycic Acid

Eye drops containing sodium cromoglycate 20 mg per mL, 10 mL

Application to the eye

Cromolux

Opticrom

1

5

Fluorometholone

Eye drops 1 mg per mL, 5 mL

Application to the eye

Flucon

FML Liquifilm

1

..

Eye drops containing fluorometholone acetate 1 mg per mL, 5 mL

Application to the eye

Flarex

1

..

Flurbiprofen

Eye drops containing flurbiprofen sodium 300 micrograms per mL, single dose units 0.4 mL, 5

Application to the eye

Ocufen

1

..

Hydrocortisone

Eye ointment containing hydrocortisone acetate 5 mg per g, 5 g

Application to the eye

Hycor

1

..

Eye ointment containing hydrocortisone acetate 10 mg per g, 5 g

Application to the eye

Hycor

1

..

Hypromellose

Eye drops 3 mg per mL, 15 mL

Application to the eye

Genteal

In a Wink Moisturising

1

5

Eye drops 5 mg per mL, 15 mL

Application to the eye

Methopt

1

5

Hypromellose with Carbomer 980

Ocular lubricating gel 3 mg-2 mg per g, 10 g

Application to the eye

Genteal gel

HPMC PAA

1

5

Hypromellose with Dextran

Eye drops containing 3 mg hypromellose 4500 with 1 mg dextran 70 per mL, 15 mL

Application to the eye

Poly-Tears

Tears Naturale

1

5

Eye drops containing 3 mg hypromellose 2900 with 1 mg dextran 70 per mL, single dose units 0.4 mL, 28

Application to the eye

Bion Tears

3

5

Paraffin

Eye ointment, compound, containing white soft paraffin with liquid paraffin, 3.5 g

Application to the eye

Duratears

Poly Visc

2

5

Pack containing 2 tubes eye ointment, compound, containing white soft paraffin with liquid paraffin, 3.5 g

Application to the eye

Ircal

Lacri-Lube

Poly Visc

1

5

Polyethylene Glycol 400 with Propylene Glycol

Eye drops 4 mg-3 mg per mL, 15 mL

Application to the eye

Systane

1

5

Eye drops 4 mg-3 mg per mL, single dose units 0.8 mL, 28

Application to the eye

Systane

2

5

Polyvinyl Alcohol

Eye drops 14 mg per mL, 15 mL

Application to the eye

Liquifilm Tears

PVA Tears

1

5

Eye drops 14 mg per mL, 15 mL (contains sodium chlorite/hydrogen peroxide as preservative)

Application to the eye

Vistil

1

5

Eye drops 30 mg per mL, 15 mL

Application to the eye

Liquifilm Forte

PVA Forte

1

5

Eye drops 30 mg per mL, 15 mL (contains sodium chlorite/hydrogen peroxide as preservative)

Application to the eye

Vistil Forte

1

5

Sulfacetamide

Eye drops containing sulfacetamide sodium 100 mg per mL, 15 mL

Application to the eye

Bleph 10

1

2

Tamarindus indica seed polysaccharide

Eye drops 10 mg per mL, 0.5 mL, 20

Application to the eye

Visine Professional

3

5

\n```","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This instrument repeals Instrument PB 78 of 2008 (s 2) and re-establishes the list and prescription limits for authorised optometrists (Schedule 1). The text itself replaces the prior determination but does not state within its wording whether items or limits differ from the repealed instrument; determining whether substantive scope changed requires a side-by-side comparison with PB 78 of 2008. The instrument otherwise confines scope to the specific medicines, forms, quantities, repeats and administration methods set out in Schedule 1 (ss 4–9)."},"complexity_factors":["Direct, narrow delegation of prescribing authority to a specified professional group (authorised optometrists) under ss 85A(1)–(2) and 88(1C) of the Act (instrument header).","Detailed Schedule 1 listing many specific pharmaceuticals, with precise forms, strengths and branded examples (Schedule table).","Per-item rules on maximum quantity, maximum repeats and manner of administration that must be read with sections 4–7 which map Act subsections to the table entries (ss 4–7).","Cross-reference to the parent statute's concepts (authorisation, prescription, pharmaceutical benefit) requires reading the National Health Act 1953 alongside this instrument (instrument header, s 3 definition).","Repeal of a prior instrument (PB 78 of 2008) requires comparison to previous text to identify any substantive changes (s 2).","Use of purpose codes and a lower-item legend to indicate particular permitted purposes increases interpretive steps for prescribers and dispensers (s 9).","Operational complexity for pharmacists/dispensers to validate that a prescription falls within the allowed form, quantity, repeats and manner (ss 4–7, Schedule 1)."],"plain_english_summary":"This determination lets authorised optometrists write subsidised prescriptions (under the National Health Act) for the specific eye medicines listed in Schedule 1. It sets the allowable product form, maximum quantity per prescription, number of repeats and how each medicine may be administered. It starts on 1 December 2008 and repeals an earlier PB instrument. The measure affects authorised optometrists, pharmacists dispensing the listed items and patients receiving those prescriptions by defining exactly what optometrists may prescribe and supply limits."},"kimi_summary":{"_metrics":{"model":"kimi-k2.5","source":"moonshot-realtime","completionTokens":2017},"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This determination operates strictly within the original intent of the National Health Act 1953, which specifically provides for delegation of limited prescribing rights to allied health professionals. It replaces an earlier 2008 instrument (PB 78) but maintains the same scope: authorising optometrists to prescribe specific ophthalmic pharmaceutical benefits only. There is no evidence of scope creep beyond eye care medications."},"complexity_factors":["Schedule 1 contains 28 distinct pharmaceutical entries with specific chemical formulations (e.g., 'Carmellose sodium 10 mg per mL') and approved brand names","Technical concentration measurements required (milligrams per millilitre, percentages, unit doses)","Cross-references to three separate subsections of the National Health Act 1953 (85A(1), 85A(2), and 88(1C))","Tabular format with multiple conditional columns for 'general purposes' versus 'particular purposes' prescribing"],"plain_english_summary":"This determination lets authorised optometrists — university-trained eye specialists — directly prescribe a specific list of PBS-subsidised eye medicines (antibiotics, antivirals, lubricants, anti-inflammatories, allergy drops) under strict limits on form, brand, quantity, repeats and ocular use only. \n\nIt means patients with common eye conditions can get subsidised prescriptions from their optometrist without a separate GP visit, but optometrists remain limited to the listed medicines and conditions."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/f2008l04414","history":"/api/acts/f2008l04414/history","analysis":"/api/acts/f2008l04414/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/f2008l04414/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/f2008l04414/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/f2008l04414/documents"}}