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Commonwealth legislation
This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.
These regulations establish Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, specifying which medicines the government will subsidise and how they must be prescribed, dispensed, stocked and sold. They affect eligible patients (including special pensioner entitlements), doctors, approved pharmacists and private hospitals.
Practically, prescriptions must follow strict form, handwriting, quantity and brand/manufacturer-code rules; pharmacists must be approved, display signage and meet pharmacopeial standards; pensioners need entitlement cards; and penalties apply for breaches such as wrong-brand supply or signage failures.
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Direct links to the current provisions in National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations.
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
STATUTORY RULES.
1954. No. 54
REGULATIONS UNDER THE NATIONAL HEALTH ACT 1953.*
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the National Health Act 1953.
Dated this twelfth
day of May , 1954.
Deputy of the Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
Minister of State for Health.
National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations.
Citation.
Interpretation.
2.—(1.) In these Regulations, unless the contrary intention appears—
“authorized form” means a form authorized by the Director-General;
“authorized prescription form” means a paper, not less than five or more than six inches in length and not less than three or more than four inches in breadth, on which appear the name and address of a medical practitioner and at the top of which are written the letters “N.H.S.” and, in the case of a prescription written for a pensioner pharmaceutical benefit, the words “Pensioner Benefit”;
“entitlement card” means an entitlement card issued by the Commonwealth to a pensioner for the purposes of Part IV. and Part VII. of the Act;
“pensioner pharmaceutical benefit” means a pensioner pharmaceutical benefit under paragraph (b) of sub-section (1.) of section 85 of the Act as affected by regulations 9, 10 and 11 of these Regulations;
“pension number”, in relation to a pensioner, means his pension number appearing on his entitlement card;
“the Act” means the National Health Act 1953;
* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on , 1954.
1441.—Price 10/5.5.1954.
“the Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary” means the latest edition for the time being of the hook called the Australian and New Zealand Pharmaceutical Formulary published by the Australian and New Zealand Pharmaceutical Association, or, if that edition has been added to or amended, that edition as affected by those additions or amendments;
“the British Pharmaceutical Codex” means the latest edition for the time being of the book called the British Pharmaceutical Codex published by direction of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, or, if that edition has been added to or amended, that edition as affected by those additions or amendments;
“the British Pharmacopoeia (1948)” means the edition of the book called the British Pharmacopoeia published under the direction of the General Medical Council of the United Kingdom in the year 1948 as affected by the additions or amendments contained in the 1951 Addendum to that book;
“the United States Pharmacopoeia” means the latest edition for the time being of the book called the Pharmacopoeia of the United States of America prepared by the Committee of Revision and published by authority of the United States Pharmacopoeia Convention, or, if that edition has been added to or amended, that edition as affected by those additions or amendments;
“trading hours”, in relation to an approved pharmaceutical chemist, means his trading hours established by or under the law of the State or Territory in which his premises are situated.
(2.) For the purposes of these Regulations—
(a) the abbreviations appearing in the columns headed “Strength” and “Form of Unit” in the First and Second Schedules have the following meanings:—
“amp.” means ampoule;
“cc.” means cubic centimetres;
“fl. oz.” means fluid ounces of 480 minims;
“G.” means grammes;
“γ” means microgrammes;
“gr.” means grains;
“hypo, tab.” means hypodermic tablet;
“I.M.” means intramuscular;
“I.U.” means international units determined in the year 1950 by the Expert Committee on Biological Standardisation of the World Health Organisation;
“I.V.” means intravenous;
“mg.” means milligrammes;
“M.” means millions of organisms;
“mil.” means millilitres;
“min.” means minims;
“U.” means units;
“U.S.P.” means the United States Pharmacopoeia; and
(b) the letters appearing in the column headed “Brand” in the First and Second Schedules denote the manufacturer whose name is specified in relation to those letters in the following table:—
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="width:431.8pt; margin-left:58.5pt; border-collapse:collapse"><tbody><tr style="height:21.3pt"><td style="width:68pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:middle"><p style="text-align:center; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>Letters.</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:355.8pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:middle"><p style="text-align:center; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>Manufacturer’s Name.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:12.3pt"><td style="width:68pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-right:14.4pt; text-align:right; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>AB</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:355.8pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>Abbott Laboratories Pty. Limited</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:7.9pt"><td style="width:68pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-right:14.4pt; text-align:right; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>AH</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:355.8pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>Allen & Hanburys (A’asia.) Ltd.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:7.45pt"><td style="width:68pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-right:14.4pt; text-align:right; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>AN</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:355.8pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>Andrew’s Laboratories.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:8.9pt"><td style="width:68pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-right:14.4pt; text-align:right; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>AS</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:355.8pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>Anglo Swiss Drug Company Pty. Ltd.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:7.45pt"><td style="width:68pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-right:14.4pt; text-align:right; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>AD</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:355.8pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>Associated Drug Co.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:8.65pt"><td style="width:68pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-right:14.4pt; text-align:right; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>BA</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:355.8pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>Bayer Pharma Pty. Ltd.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:7.9pt"><td style="width:68pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-right:14.4pt; text-align:right; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>BT</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:355.8pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>Boots Pure Drug Co. (Aust.) Pty. Ltd.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:7.9pt"><td style="width:68pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-right:14.4pt; text-align:right; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>BD</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:355.8pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>The British Drug Houses (Australia) Pty. Ltd.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:7.45pt"><td style="width:68pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-right:14.4pt; text-align:right; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>BP</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:355.8pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>British Pharmaceuticals Pty. Ltd.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:7.9pt"><td style="width:68pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-right:14.4pt; text-align:right; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>BS</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:355.8pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>British Schering Ltd.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:8.65pt"><td style="width:68pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-right:14.4pt; text-align:right; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>BL</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:355.8pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>David G. Bull Laboratory</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:8.15pt"><td style="width:68pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-right:14.4pt; text-align:right; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>BW</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:355.8pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>Burroughs Wellcome & Co. (Australia) Ltd.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:8.4pt"><td style="width:68pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-right:14.4pt; text-align:right; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>CM</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:355.8pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>Charles McDonald Pty. Ltd.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:9.9pt"><td style="width:68pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-right:14.4pt; text-align:right; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>CB</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:355.8pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>Ciba Limited</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:8.4pt"><td style="width:68pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-right:14.4pt; text-align:right; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>CS</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:355.8pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>Commonwealth Serum Laboratories</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:7.9pt"><td style="width:68pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-right:14.4pt; text-align:right; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>CK</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:355.8pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>The Crookes Laboratories Limited</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:8.15pt"><td style="width:68pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-right:14.4pt; text-align:right; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>CO</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:355.8pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>Colonial Sugar Refining Co.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:8.15pt"><td style="width:68pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-right:14.4pt; text-align:right; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>DN</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:355.8pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>Deutsche Novocillin Gesellschaft</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:7.9pt"><td style="width:68pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-right:14.4pt; text-align:right; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>DH</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:355.8pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>Drug Houses of Australia Ltd.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:8.15pt"><td style="width:68pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-right:14.4pt; text-align:right; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>EV</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:355.8pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>Evans Medical Supplies Ltd;</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:7.9pt"><td style="width:68pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-right:14.4pt; text-align:right; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>FA</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:355.8pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>P. H. Paulding & Co. Limited</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:8.15pt"><td style="width:68pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-right:14.4pt; text-align:right; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>FM</span></p></td><td colspan="3" style="width:355.8pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:11pt"><span>Fawns and McAllan Pty. Ltd.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:7.9pt"><td s
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