ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø

​​Information for consumers

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Types of approvals  

​Your doctor may need to obtain an approval before they prescribe or supply a medicine to you. 

​ Approval from ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Ministry of Health  

Medicines that need approval 

Some medicines require a doctor to obtain a ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Health approval before they can be prescribed or supplied to you. This process aims to prevent misuse and ensure public health and safety.

Examples of medicines that require such approval include strong pain relievers such as hydromorphone, methadone and buprenorphine when used continuously for more than 2 months, and medicines called psychostimulants (dexamfetamine, methylphenidate and lisdexamfetamine) that are often used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). 

Further information is available at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø requirements for approval to prescribe or supply Schedule 8 medicines.

​Who can prescribe or supp​ly these medicines 

Some medicines can only be prescribed by a specialist doctor. If this is the case, you may need to be referred to another doctor to prescribe the medicine to you.​

Your doctor may need to apply to the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Ministry of Health for an approval number. 

There are reasons for the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Ministry of Health to refuse an application for approval. In this case, your doctor will discuss the reasons with you. 

Approval numbers on prescriptions 

Once applications are approved, your doctor will receive an approval number. Some medicines require the doctor to include the approval number on your prescription. These medicines include:

• psychostimulant medicines (dexamfetamine, methylphenidate and lisdexamfetamine) commonly used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• certain medicines that need to be compounded by a pharmacy
  
• certain restricted medicines used by specialist doctors
  

If the approval number is not included by your doct​or on the prescription, your pharmacist will not be able to dispense it.​​​​​​

A note on PBS authorities:​

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) helps Australians access essential prescribed medications at a reduced cost. Certain medicines listed on the PBS require a doctor to obtain an authority before they can be prescribed at a subsidised cost​. â€‹

A PBS Authority is issued by the Commonwealth government and is separate from an approval issued to a prescriber by the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Ministry of Health.​

Who to contact for medicines advice

• ​If you have immediate concerns about a person's health and safety, call triple zero (000) or visit a hospital emergency department.
  
• For 24-hour health advice you can call the Health Direct hotline at 1800 022 222. You can also visit the website at Health Direct​​​ to check your symptoms, find​ a health service, or find health information.
• For information on all types of medicines you can call the Medicines Line​​​​​ on 1300 MEDICINE (1300 633 424). Calls are answered by registered pharmacists, and the service is available Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm AEST (excluding ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø public holidays).
• The Poisons Information Centre​​​​ provides the latest poisons information to the public. Advice is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 131126 from anywhere in Australia. ​