Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)

The PBS Schedule lists all of the medicines available to be dispensed to patients at a Government-subsidised price. The Schedule is part of the wider Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme managed by the Department of Health and Aged Care and administered by Services Australia. The full cost of your medicine can be found on pbs.gov.au by searching for the medicine and is also shown on the dispensing label. The co-payment is the amount you pay towards the cost of your PBS subsidised medicine. Many PBS medicines cost significantly more than the co-payment amount.

From 1 January 2023, you may pay up to $30.00 for most PBS medicines, or $7.30 if you have a concession card. The Australian Government pays the remaining cost (with the exception of brand premiums and certain other allowable charges).

From 1 January 2023, pharmacists will have the option to provide a discretionary discount to general patients for specific eligible medicines. This is not mandatory, and it is the pharmacist’s choice to provide a discount.

Eligibility for PBS:

  • Australian residents who hold a current Medicare card.

  • Overseas visitors from countries with which Australia has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) are also eligible to access the Scheme. Australia currently has RHCAs with the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Malta, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Norway, Belgium, and Slovenia. Residents of these countries must show their passports when lodging a prescription to prove their eligibility or they can contact Services Australia and get a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement Card to prove their eligibility. Some overseas visitors may not be eligible for this card.

Only those eligible for the PBS will receive subsidised medication and every time you present your script to the pharmacist, you will need to provide your Medicare card. Eligible veterans may need to present their DVA card in addition to their Medicare card.

Eligible for Concessions:

  • Pensioner Concession Card;

  • Commonwealth Seniors Health Card;

  • Health Care Card; or

  • DVA White, Gold, or Orange Card.

Pharmacy and MedicationsCristy Houghton