{"id":"F2007B01097","name":"National Health Act 1953 - Declaration under subsection 85(2AA) (No. PB 10 of 2002)","slug":"national-health-act-1953-declaration-under-subsection-85-2aa-no-pb-10-of-2002","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"repealed","isInForce":false,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":67839,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2007B01097-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"Repealed","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"National Health Act 1953 - Declaration under subsection 85(2AA) (No. PB 10 of 2002)","content":"COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA\n\nNational Health Act 1953\n\nPHARMACEUTICAL BENEFITS\n\nDECLARATION UNDER SUBSECTION 85 (2AA)\n\nNo. PB 10 of 2002\n\nI, BRETT ANTHONY LENNON, Assistant Secretary, Pharmaceutical Benefits Branch, Department of Health and Ageing and Delegate of the Minister for Health and Ageing, having in accordance with subsection 85 (2AB) of the National Health Act 1953 obtained the advice of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee, pursuant to subsection 85 (2AA) of the National Health Act 1953, hereby make the following Declaration:\n\n1.  This Declaration commences on 1 August 2002.\n\n2. The drugs and medicinal preparations specified in the Schedule to this Declaration shall cease to be drugs and medicinal preparations to which Part VII of the National Health Act 1953 applies.\n\nTHE SCHEDULE\n\nAlprostadil\n\nAurothioglucose\n\nBismuth Subcitrate and Metronidazole and Tetracycline Hydrochloride (buffered)\n\nErgotamine Tartrate\n\nMethenolone Acetate\n\nPhenelzine Sulfate\n\nTolbutamide\n\nDated this 8th day of July 2002.\n\nBRETT ANTHONY LENNON\n\nAssistant Secretary\n\nPharmaceutical Benefits Branch\n\nDepartment of Health and Ageing\n\nDelegate of the Minister for Health and Ageing","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"_metrics":{"model":"kimi-k2.5","source":"moonshot-batch","completionTokens":2101},"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The declaration exercises the specific power in subsection 85(2AA) of the National Health Act 1953 to remove drugs from PBS subsidy. It operates strictly within the original legislative intent and does not expand the scope beyond delisting specified pharmaceutical items."},"complexity_factors":["Single operative clause with no conditional logic or exceptions","No defined terms or interpretation section","Simple schedule format listing only seven drug names without qualifications","No cross-references beyond the empowering provision (s 85(2AA))"],"plain_english_summary":"**This declaration removes seven prescription drugs from Australia's government subsidy scheme.**\n\nUnder the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), taxpayers help cover the cost of many medications. This instrument **delists seven specific drugs**, meaning patients will now pay the full private price instead of the subsidised rate.\n\n**The affected medications are:**\n- **Alprostadil** (used for erectile dysfunction and certain heart conditions)\n- **Aurothioglucose** (a gold-based treatment for rheumatoid arthritis)\n- **Bismuth Subcitrate/Metronidazole/Tetracycline** (a combination antibiotic for stomach ulcers)\n- **Ergotamine Tartrate** (migraine treatment)\n- **Methenolone Acetate** (an anabolic steroid for muscle wasting)\n- **Phenelzine Sulfate** (an older antidepressant)\n- **Tolbutamide** (a diabetes medication)\n\nA senior Health Department official (acting with the Minister's authority) made this decision after receiving advice from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee — the independent experts who assess which medicines offer good value for public money. Doctors can still prescribe these drugs, but patients must bear the full cost."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/national-health-act-1953-declaration-under-subsection-85-2aa-no-pb-10-of-2002","history":"/api/acts/national-health-act-1953-declaration-under-subsection-85-2aa-no-pb-10-of-2002/history","analysis":"/api/acts/national-health-act-1953-declaration-under-subsection-85-2aa-no-pb-10-of-2002/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/national-health-act-1953-declaration-under-subsection-85-2aa-no-pb-10-of-2002/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/national-health-act-1953-declaration-under-subsection-85-2aa-no-pb-10-of-2002/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/national-health-act-1953-declaration-under-subsection-85-2aa-no-pb-10-of-2002/documents"}}