PBS support measures for patients and pharmacies in declared disaster areas after ex-Cyclone Alfred
The Australian Government has activated special Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) arrangements, allowing patients to receive subsidised medicines through emergency supply provisions, continued dispensing, and telehealth services in areas affected by ex-Cyclone Alfred.
Important information about Continued Dispensing
Continued Dispensing Emergency Arrangements are temporarily in place to support people affected by the flooding disaster in Far North Queensland and ex-Cyclone Alfred to continue to access their PBS subsidised medicines.
From 4 February 2025, a Continued Dispensing Emergency Measure has been temporarily put in place to support people affected by the flooding disaster in Far North Queensland and Tropical Cyclone Alfred to continue to access their PBS subsidised medicines. This PBS Continued Dispensing Emergency Measure provides access to a wider range of PBS medicines than under ongoing Continued Dispensing arrangements, covering most medicines on the General Schedule of the PBS. This measure will be in place until 31 March 2025.
—The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme | PBS Continued Dispensing Arrangements,
The PBS Continued Dispensing Emergency Measure supports people to continue to access their PBS subsidised medicines, where there is an immediate need for the medicine, but the PBS prescriber is unable to be contacted and/or is unable to provide an electronic PBS prescription or owing prescription. This measure concludes on 31 March 2025.
Refer to the advice on the PBS webpage regarding the requirements for supplying PBS medicines without a prescription under the Continued Dispensing arrangement.
Important information for pharmacies
Continued Dispensing arrangements are intended to complement, not replace, existing emergency supply provisions.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has guidance on the supply of medicines under the Continued Dispensing arrangements.
See the full advice for pharmacists on the PBS webpage.
Telecommunications impact on PBS online
The impact of ex-Cyclone Alfred have affected telecommunications capacity in some areas resulting in the loss of a real-time connection to Services Australia for prescription verification and entitlement checking. Any service interruption will not affect pharmacy PBS claiming as dispensing software will store all claimed items until the telecommunications and connection with Services Australia through PBS Online are restored and validation can occur.
Missing prescriptions/no paperwork
If your pharmacy has lost or damaged prescriptions due to a natural disaster or emergency, you should complete a Commonwealth statutory declaration and keep it with your records for compliance purposes. The statutory declaration should include a statement about loss of prescriptions as a result of the natural disaster/emergency, and an undertaking that an insurance claim has not been made.
Pharmacists can download a statutory declaration from the Australian Government’s website or purchase one from any post office or newsagent.
Emergency relocation of a pharmacy
Pharmacists seeking to temporarily relocate their approved pharmacy due to damage from a natural disaster or emergency should send an email to pbsapprovedsuppliers@health.gov.au or phone 1800 316 389 and provide the following information:
name of the affected pharmacy
affected pharmacy’s current PBS approval number
addresses of the current and temporary premises
expected timeframe for return to the approved premises.
The Department of Health and Aged Care will advise wholesaler distributors of the temporary approval to supply PBS medicines at alternative premises to facilitate delivery of PBS medicines to the temporary address.
Please note, the PBS pharmacy approval number will not change for these temporary relocations. Pharmacists are also required to continue to comply with State legislation with regards to the temporary premises they will be using.