Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Authority for Junior Doctors

A simple introduction to authority-required scripts as a junior doctor in australia :)

If you’re working as a junior doctor in Australia, get ready to spend a fair bit of time on something called *authority-required prescriptions*. It's one of those admin-heavy things you just have to get used to. Writing scripts is already a core part of the job, but these authority-required ones come with a few extra hoops to jump through.

Here’s how it works. In Australia, we have the PBS (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme), which makes medications more affordable for patients. There are three main categories under PBS: unrestricted benefits (easy to prescribe), restricted benefits (limited to specific conditions), and authority-required benefits. These authority-required ones are what we’re diving into today.

PBS authority - services australia

Check out the website for more info:

https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/apply-for-pbs-authority?context=20

Essentially, authority-required medications need extra approval before you can prescribe them. This could be because the medication is restricted, the dose is higher than usual, or the patient needs an extended course. Think of it like protocoling a scan for radiology – you’ve got to justify why you’re doing it.

The process isn’t complicated, but it’s definitely fiddly. Here’s the drill:

1. You call the PBS Authority number (pro tip: save **1800 888 333** in your phone – trust me, you’ll use it a lot).

handy contact :)

2. You give them all the details – your prescriber number, your name, the patient’s name, Medicare number, the medication, the form (e.g., tablets, capsules), the quantity, and the reason for the script.

3. Then, you explain why the patient needs it – for example, “This patient has a severe infection and needs a 56-tablet course of antibiotics.”

4. The person on the other end (not a medical professional, by the way) processes your request, gives you an approval code, and you write it on the script.

If you’re working with an electronic prescribing system, the approval code will unlock the option to print the script. If it’s an old-school paper script, you just jot the code down, hand it to the patient, and they’re good to go.

Calling the PBS Authority line is probably the most common way to get these approvals, and honestly, it’s pretty straightforward once you’ve done it a couple of times. The key is to keep the number saved in your phone (label it “PBS Approval” or something) so you’re not scrambling to find it when you’re busy on the wards.

It’s not the most glamorous part of the job, but it’s all part of keeping the system running and ensuring patients get the meds they need without unnecessary out-of-pocket costs. Plus, it gets easier the more you do it.

So, if you’re a junior doc starting out, just embrace the fiddly bits – they’re all part of the learning curve!

watch the video for more

https://www.tiktok.com/@asperharry/video/7401781371972111634?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7247966030822213121