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Commonwealth legislation
This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.
This amendment tightens how Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme operates: it defines "brand" for pricing, limits prescriptions of Water for Injection to specific clinical uses, lets doctors prescribe by "a brand of that benefit," and replaces the old drugs list with a detailed new schedule of medicines, strengths, forms and repeat limits.
It affects prescribers, pharmacists, patients and manufacturers by clarifying subsidy coverage and conditions, shaping access and government expenditure on medicines.
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Zoe can write the in-depth analysis on top of the summary above: how it works, who it affects and what each part actually does.
Direct links to the current provisions in National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations (Amendment).
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
STATUTORY RULES.
1954. No. 93
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 eighteenth
day of August , 1954.
W. J. Slim
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
Minister of State for Health.
Amendments of the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations.†
Interpretation.
(a) by inserting in sub-regulation (1.), after the definition of
“authorized prescription form”, the following definition:—
“‘brand’ means a brand of a pharmaceutical benefit in respect of which the Minister has determined a rate of payment;”;
* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on , 1954
† Statutory Rules 1954, No. 54, as amended by Statutory Rules 1954, Nos. 77
3037.—Price 1s. 6d. 10/3.8.1954.
(b) by omitting from paragraph (a) of sub-regulation (2.) the word “and” (last occurring); and
(c) by omitting paragraph (b) of sub-regulation (2.).
General pharmaceutical benefits.
“(4.) Water for Injection as prescribed in the First Schedule is not a general pharmaceutical benefit unless it is prescribed for supply in conjunction with and for administration with—
(a) a drug or medicinal preparation that is prescribed as a general pharmaceutical benefit in the form of a hypodermic tablet; or
(b) one of the following drugs or medicinal preparations as prescribed as general pharmaceutical benefits:—
Aureomycin.
Dihydrostreptomycin.
Hyalase.
Injection of Neoarsphenamine.
Penethamate Hydriodide.
Injection of Penicillin.
Injection of Phenobarbitone Sodium.
Injection of Procaine Penicillin (Crystalline).
Rondase.
Streptomycin.
Terramycin.
Tetracycline.
Wydase.”.
Exceptions to pensioner benefits in British Pharmacopoeia.
Writing of prescriptions.
First, Second and Third Schedules.
FIRST SCHEDULE. Reg. 8.
Drugs and Medicinal Preparations that may be Prescribed for Supply, Supplied and Received as General Pharmaceutical Benefits.
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="width:787.7pt; border-collapse:collapse"><tbody><tr style="height:33.6pt"><td style="width:35.85pt; 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; font-size:10pt"><span>Item Number.</span></p></td><td style="width:150.3pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:middle"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:10pt"><span>Name or Formula.</span></p></td><td style="width:127.05pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:middle"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:10pt"><span>Strength.</span></p></td><td style="width:126.8pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:middle"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:10pt"><span>Form of Unit.</span></p></td><td style="width:38pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:middle"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:10pt"><span>Maximum Quantity or Number of Units.</span></p></td><td style="width:43.3pt; 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; font-size:10pt"><span>Number of Repeats.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:10.55pt"><td style="width:35.85pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span>1</span></p></td><td style="width:150.3pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:justify; font-size:11pt"><span style="font-variant:small-caps">Acetarsol Soluble, Injection of </span><span style="width:72.08pt; font-family:'Lucida Console', monospace; font-variant:small-caps; display:inline-block">..........</span></p></td><td style="width:127.05pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:justify; font-size:11pt"><span style="width:178.5pt; font-family:'Lucida Console', monospace; display:inline-block">..........................</span></p></td><td style="width:126.8pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:justify; font-size:11pt"><span>2 cc. amp.</span><span style="width:132.15pt; font-family:'Lucida Console', monospace; display:inline-block">...................</span></p></td><td style="width:38pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-right:21.6pt; text-align:right; font-size:11pt"><span>10</span></p></td><td style="width:43.3pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-right:21.6pt; text-align:right; font-size:11pt"><span>1</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:12.95pt"><td style="width:35.85pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span></span></p></td><td style="width:150.3pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:justify; font-size:11pt"><span></span></p></td><td style="width:127.05pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:justify; font-size:11pt"><span style="width:178.5pt; font-family:'Lucida Console', monospace; display:inline-block">..........................</span></p></td><td style="width:126.8pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:justify; font-size:11pt"><span>3 cc. amp.</span><span style="width:132.15pt; font-family:'Lucida Console', monospace; display:inline-block">...................</span></p></td><td style="width:38pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-right:21.6pt; text-align:right; font-size:11pt"><span>10</span></p></td><td style="width:43.3pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-right:21.6pt; text-align:right; font-size:11pt"><span>1</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:11.5pt"><td style="width:35.85pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span>2</span></p></td><td rowspan="2" style="width:150.3pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:justify; font-size:11pt"><span style="font-variant:small-caps">Adrenalin Hydrochloride, Solution of</span></p></td><td style="width:127.05pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:justify; font-size:11pt"><span>1 in 1,000 </span><span style="width:131.44pt; font-family:'Lucida Console', monospace; display:inline-block">...................</span></p></td><td style="width:126.8pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:justify; font-size:11pt"><span>0.5 cc. amp.</span><span style="width:123.9pt; font-family:'Lucida Console', monospace; display:inline-block">..................</span></p></td><td style="width:38pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-right:21.6pt; text-align:right; font-size:11pt"><span>6</span></p></td><td style="width:43.3pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-right:21.6pt; text-align:right; font-size:11pt"><span>1</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:7.45pt"><td style="width:35.85pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span></span></p></td><td style="width:127.05pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:justify; font-size:11pt"><span>1 in 1,000 </span><span style="width:131.44pt; font-family:'Lucida Console', monospace; display:inline-block">...................</span></p></td><td style="width:126.8pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:justify; font-size:11pt"><span>1 cc. amp.</span><span style="width:132.15pt; font-family:'Lucida Console', monospace; display:inline-block">...................</span></p></td><td style="width:38pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-right:21.6pt; text-align:right; font-size:11pt"><span>6</span></p></td><td style="width:43.3pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-right:21.6pt; text-align:right; font-size:11pt"><span>1</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:7.45pt"><td style="width:35.85pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span></span></p></td><td style="width:150.3pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:justify; font-size:11pt"><span></span></p></td><td style="width:127.05pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:justify; font-size:11pt"><span>1 in 1,000 </span><span style="width:131.44pt; font-family:'Lucida Console', monospace; display:inline-block">...................</span></p></td><td style="width:126.8pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:justify; font-size:11pt"><span>10 cc. vial </span><span style="width:129.09pt; font-family:'Lucida Console', monospace; display:inline-block">...................</span></p></td><td style="width:38pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-right:21.6pt; text-align:right; font-size:11pt"><span>1</span></p></td><td style="width:43.3pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-right:21.6pt; text-align:right; font-size:11pt"><span>1</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:7.9pt"><td style="width:35.85pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span></span></p></td><td style="width:150.3pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:justify; font-size:11pt"><span></span></p></td><td style="width:127.05pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:justify; font-size:11pt"><span>1 in 1,000 </span><span style="width:131.44pt; font-family:'Lucida Console', monospace; display:inline-block">...................</span></p></td><td style="width:126.8pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:justify; font-size:11pt"><span>1 fl. oz. bottle </span><span style="width:113.2pt; font-family:'Lucida Console', monospace; display:inline-block">.................</span></p></td><td style="width:38pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-right:21.6pt; text-align:right; font-size:11pt"><span>1</span></p></td><td style="width:43.3pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-right:21.6pt; text-align:right; font-size:11pt"><span>..</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:8.65pt"><td style="width:35.85pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span></span></p></td><td style="width:150.3pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:justify; font-size:11pt"><span></span></p></td><td style="width:127.05pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:justify; font-size:11pt"><span>1 in 1,000 </span><span style="width:131.44pt; font-family:'Lucida Console', monospace; display:inline-block">...................</span></p></td><td style="width:126.8pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:justify; font-size:11pt"><span>1 fl. oz. vial </span><span style="width:121.75pt; font-family:'Lucida Console', monospace; display:inline-block">..................</span></p></td><td style="width:38pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-right:21.6pt; text-align:right; font-size:11pt"><span>1</span></p></td><td style="width:43.3pt; bord
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