The Department of Health and Aged Care
I am a pharmacist – how do I apply to become a PBS approved supplier?
I am buying an approved pharmacy – do I need to apply for approval to change ownership?
I am a medical practitioner - how do I apply to become a PBS approved supplier?
How do I apply to become a PBS approved supplier on behalf of a hospital authority?
Where can I find information about the Pharmacy Location Rules?
Where can I find the meeting dates for the Australian Community Pharmacy Authority?
How long does the application process take?
Do I need to complete an application form?
How do I lodge my application?
Do I need to pay a fee to lodge my application?
How do I request temporary pharmacy closure (deactivation)?
What should I do if my pharmacy is affected by disaster?
What should I do in the event of bankruptcy or external administration?
What should I do if an approved pharmacist dies?
What is the PBS Approved Suppliers Portal?
How do I access the PBS Approved Suppliers Portal?
Do I need myGovID to register for the PBS Approved Suppliers Portal?
What is myGovID?
Can only registered, signed-in users access the PBS Approved Suppliers Portal?
Where can I find user guides for the PBS Approved Suppliers Portal?
Can I view the status of my application in the PBS Approved Suppliers Portal?
How do I claim for PBS medicines?
How do I obtain PBS stationery?
Which PBS approved supplier administrative functions does the Department of Health and Aged Care manage?
Which PBS approved supplier administrative functions does Services Australia (formerly the Department of Human Services) manage?
How do I contact the Department of Health and Aged Care?
Why were pharmacy approval application fees introduced?
When were the application fees introduced?
Which application types will incur an application fee?
How were the pharmacy approval application fees set?
How do I pay the application fee?
What happens if my payment is not finalised within 7 calendar days from the date of the invoice?
If there are other applications ahead of mine for the same location, and mine is likely to be rejected as a result, why should I pay the full application fee?
If my application is deferred by the ACPA and further information requested, do I have to pay another?
If my application is deemed invalid because I haven’t provided the correct information and I need to resubmit, will I have to pay another fee?
What happens if I withdraw my application after I’ve paid? Do I get a refund?
Is there a fee for Ministerial Discretion?
Is there a fee for medical practitioners or hospital authorities seeking approval?
What is the purpose of the Minister’s discretionary power?
Can’t the Minister just amend the pharmacy location rules if they’re not working?
If I’ve identified an area of need, can I go directly to the Minister for approval?
The Secretary has rejected my application. Do I need to exhaust all appeals before I can go to the Minister?
If I request the Minister’s intervention, how long will the process take?
If I request the Minister’s intervention, are there any requirements I will have to meet?
I’m requesting the Minister’s intervention. Do I have to include anything with my request form?
Will other pharmacists be advised about my request?
Are there any matters that the Minister will not take into account when considering a request?
What happens if the Minister decides to exercise the discretionary power?
Can an applicant or a third party appeal a decision of the Minister to approve or not approve a request?
I am a pharmacist – how do I apply to become a PBS approved supplier?
Apply to become a PBS approved supplier via the PBS Approved Suppliers Portal. For additional information, please refer to Information for pharmacists.
I am buying an approved pharmacy – do I need to apply for approval to change ownership?
New owners must be approved to supply PBS medicines. For information about how to apply, please refer to Information for pharmacists - Change pharmacy ownership (not involving relocation).
I am a medical practitioner - how do I apply to become a PBS approved supplier?
Apply to become a PBS approved supplier via the PBS Approved Suppliers Portal. For additional information, please refer to Information for Medical Practitioners.
How do I apply to become a PBS approved supplier on behalf of a hospital authority?
Apply to become a PBS approved supplier via the PBS Approved Suppliers Portal. For additional information, please refer to Information for Hospital Authorities.
Where can I find information about the Pharmacy Location Rules?
Please refer to the Australian Community Pharmacy Authority web page.
Where can I find the meeting dates for the Australian Community Pharmacy Authority?
Please refer to the Australian Community Pharmacy Authority web page.
How long does the application process take?
For applications made under the Pharmacy Location Rules, please refer to the Australian Community Pharmacy Authority web page which provides lodgement periods for the Australian Community Pharmacy Authority meetings. The Pharmacy Location Rules Applicant’s Handbook provides information about the application process and timeframes.
For change of ownership application timeframes, please refer to Information for pharmacists.
Do I need to complete an application form?
Under the National Health Act 1953 (Act) and the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations 2017, applications for certain approvals must be in a form approved by the Secretary. Therefore, applications will be accepted only on the current approved forms available on the PBS Approved Suppliers Portal or from the Department of Health and Aged Care – PBS Approved Suppliers website.
How do I lodge my application?
All applications for approval to establish a new pharmacy, or relocate and/or change ownership of an approved pharmacy, or expand or contract the size of an approved pharmacy must be lodged via the PBS Approved Suppliers Portal using the online form. Other application types and forms must be lodged in accordance with the return instructions provided on each form. For detailed instructions on how to lodge an application or other form via the PBS Approved Suppliers Portal, please refer to the user guides.
Do I need to pay a fee to lodge my application?
You will be required to pay an application fee if you are lodging an application for one of the following:
For more information on application fees, please visit the Application fees webpage.
How do I request temporary pharmacy closure (deactivation)?
If a business owner needs to close their pharmacy temporarily, they must first request deactivation, in writing, before ceasing supply of pharmaceutical benefits. Further information is available in the Department of Health and Aged Care's Deactivation Guidelines.
What should I do if my pharmacy is affected by disaster?
If the pharmacy is affected by disaster, permission to supply PBS medicines at alternative premises for a temporary period can be obtained. To apply, email pbsapprovedsuppliers@health.gov.au and include details and evidence of the disaster and the alternative premises.
What should I do in the event of bankruptcy or external administration?
Please refer to bankruptcy of an approved pharmacist or external administration of a pharmacy.
What should I do if an approved pharmacist dies?
Please refer to death of an approved pharmacist.
What is the PBS Approved Suppliers Portal?
The PBS Approved Suppliers Portal allows for online lodgement of:
How do I access the PBS Approved Suppliers Portal?
The PBS Approved Suppliers Portal is available at pbsapprovedsuppliers.health.gov.au/. Please refer to the user guide How to register and sign in.
Do I need myGovID to register for the PBS Approved Suppliers Portal?
Yes, you will need your myGovID credential to register for access to the PBS Approved Suppliers Portal. Please note, the Department of Health and Aged Care is not responsible for administering myGovID. Detailed information about how to set up myGovID is available from the Australian Taxation Office Online Services website.
What is myGovID?
myGovID is the Australian Government’s digital identity provider that allows you to prove who you are online. Relationship Authorisation Manager is an authorisation service that allows you to act on behalf of a business online when linked with your myGovID. Further information about myGovID and Relationship Authorisation Manager is available from the Australian Taxation Office Online Services website.
Can only registered, signed-in users access the PBS Approved Suppliers Portal?
You must be a registered, signed-in user to submit the following:
You do not need to sign in to the PBS Approved Suppliers Portal to use the Upload Documents function; you can submit documentation requested by the Department of Health and Aged Care, or request reissue of an approval certificate without signing in to the Portal.
For further information, please refer to the applicable guide on the Guides and Forms web page
Where can I find user guides for the PBS Approved Suppliers Portal?
Our Guides and Forms provide information about navigating and using the PBS Approved Suppliers Portal.
Can I view the status of my application in the PBS Approved Suppliers Portal?
Yes, from ‘My Dashboard’ you can view a list of your applications or documents uploaded via the ‘Upload Document(s)’ tab (if signed in when the documents were uploaded), and check the status of submitted applications and other PDF forms.
How do I claim for PBS medicines?
Further information about claiming for the PBS is available on the Services Australia website.
Please note, PBS claim payments are managed by Services Australia, not the Department of Health and Aged Care. Therefore, all PBS claim enquiries should be directed to Services Australia on 132 290.
How do I obtain PBS stationery?
PBS stationery for eligible approved suppliers is available for ordering through the Services Australia Health Professional Online Services (HPOS). To access HPOS you will need to set up a Provider Digital Access (PRODA) account.
Further information on how to set up a PRODA account and obtain PBS stationery is available on the Services Australia website.
Which PBS approved supplier administrative functions does the Department of Health and Aged Care manage?
Pharmacy approvals:
Updates to a pharmacy including:
Medical Practitioners
Hospitals:
Which PBS approved supplier administrative functions does Services Australia (formerly the Department of Human Services) manage?
How do I contact the Department of Health and Aged Care?
If you have any questions about applying for approval to supply pharmaceutical benefits, please email details of your enquiry to pbsapprovedsuppliers@health.gov.au or call 1800 316 389.
Why were pharmacy approval application fees introduced?
In the 2018-19 Budget, the Government announced its decision to fully recover costs for the pharmacy approval process.
When were the application fees introduced?
Application fees were introduced commencing 1 July 2020. Pharmacy approval applications submitted on or after this date will incur a fee.
Which application types will incur an application fee?
From 1 July 2020, application fees will apply to:
For details about the current application fee levels, refer to the information provided at PBS Approved Supplier Application Fees.
How are the pharmacy approval application fees set?
The approach used to determine the costs of this regulatory charging activity is an Activity-Based Costing (ABC) methodology for the allocation of all direct and indirect costs to the pharmacy approval activities. Direct and indirect costs are estimated based on the average time required to assess one application.
Further information is available from The Cost Recovery Implementation Statement: Approval process for pharmacists seeking to provide Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme medicines 2022-23
How do I pay the application fee?
After lodging your application you will be prompted to make a credit card payment online, or alternatively you can download the invoice to make a payment via BPAY or EFT. The invoice will display your options for payment which are BPay, EFT or credit card payment over the phone. Payment of the fee must be finalised within 7 calendar days from the date of the invoice. To ensure your payment is finalised (i.e received and processed by the Department) within 7 calendar days, you should make payment as soon as you are prompted to make an online payment or when the invoice is available.
Further details on the payment process can be found from the How to submit an online application guides from Guides and Forms.
What happens if my payment is not finalised within 7 calendar days from the date of the invoice?
If the Department has not received the payment within 7 calendar days from the date of the invoice the application will be cancelled.
If there are other applications ahead of mine for the same location, and mine is likely to be rejected as a result, why should I pay the full application fee?
All applications to establish a new or relocate an existing pharmacy go through the same checking and assessment processes by both the Department and the ACPA, regardless of whether there are multiple applications for the same location or where an application sits in the queue. As the fees are to recover costs associated with these regulatory processes, payment of the full application fee applies.
If my application is deemed invalid because I haven’t provided the correct information and I need to resubmit, will I have to pay another fee?
No, if on preliminary review your application is deemed invalid by the Department because you have not provided the correct information or documents, you will be asked to resubmit the application. While you will not have to pay another fee, lodgement will be recorded as the date and time the application is resubmitted, which may push it down the queue.
If my application is deferred by the ACPA and further information requested, do I have to pay another fee?
No, if the ACPA requests further information for consideration at a later meeting or out of session, you will not be required to pay another fee.
What happens if I withdraw my application after I’ve paid? Do I get a refund?
You can withdraw your application at any time; however, no refunds will be issued once an invoice for the application fee has been paid.
Is there a fee for Ministerial Discretion?
No, fees do not apply when requesting Ministerial Discretion, which is considered an appeal process, not a regulatory activity. Therefore, requests for Ministerial Discretion are not subject to cost recovery fees.
Is there a fee for medical practitioners or hospital authorities seeking approval?
Applications from medical practitioners or hospital authorities seeking approval to supply pharmaceutical benefits do not incur a fee.
What is the purpose of the Minister’s discretionary power?
To allow the Minister to approve a pharmacist to supply pharmaceutical benefits if the application of the Pharmacy Location Rules has resulted in a community being left without reasonable access to the supply of pharmaceutical benefits.
Can't the Minister just amend the Pharmacy Location Rules if they’re not working?
The Minister will consider amending the Pharmacy Location Rules if clear problems are identified. However, amending the Pharmacy Location Rules in response to individual cases would be neither timely nor efficient.
If I’ve identified an area of need, can I go directly to the Minister for approval?
No. A request can only be made to the Minister if:
This means you will still need to make an application under the Pharmacy Location Rules for consideration by the ACPA. For more information about the application process, please see the Pharmacy Location Rules – Applicant's Handbook.
The Secretary has rejected my application. Do I need to exhaust all appeals before I can go to the Minister?
No. You don’t need to have appealed the Secretary’s decision in order to request that the Minister exercise their discretionary power. However, if you have initiated any appeal proceedings in either the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) or a federal court, they must be finalised or discontinued before you can make a request to the Minister.
If you make a request to the Minister, and you then initiate any appeal proceedings before the Minister has made a decision, your request will be treated as if it had been withdrawn.
If the Minister does not agree to your request, and you had not previously appealed the Secretary’s decision, you can still do so within 28 days of being notified of the Minister’s decision.
You should seek independent legal advice regarding your entitlement to review by the AAT or a federal court.
It is important to note that the Minister is not obligated to consider a request and cannot be compelled to do so.
If I request the Minister’s intervention, how long will the process take?
Up to six months. The Minister has three months from the date you lodge your request with the Department in which to decide whether or not to consider your request. You will be notified of this decision in writing.
If the Minister decides to consider your request, the Minister has a further three months in which to decide whether or not to exercise the discretionary power. You will be notified of this decision in writing.
If I request the Minister’s intervention, are there any requirements I will have to meet?
Yes. Firstly, the Minister can only consider valid requests. A valid request is one that is made within the required timeframe, in the required form, and is in respect of a certain type of decision (that is, a decision by the Secretary to reject an application based on the Pharmacy Location Rules) and which is not the subject of an appeal in the AAT or a federal court. For more information about what makes a request valid, please refer to paragraph 3.1 of the Ministerial Discretion Guidelines.
To exercise the discretionary power, the Minister must be satisfied of two things:
For each request, it will be up to the Minister to determine the community that is relevant to that request, and what constitutes ‘reasonable access’ to the supply of pharmaceutical benefits.
The pharmacist making the request must also be permitted under the relevant State or Territory law to carry on business as a pharmacist at the proposed premises.
I’m requesting the Minister’s intervention. Do I have to include anything with my request form?
Yes. The Minister has determined the form in which requests must be made, which consists of a completed Request Form and several other pieces of information. These are described in more detail at paragraph 2.5 of the Ministerial Discretion Guidelines.
Please provide only necessary, relevant information and limit your request to 10 pages.
Will other pharmacists be advised about my request?
Very likely, but your identity will remain confidential. Once the Department receives a valid request, it may write to pharmacists who are located in the area of the proposed pharmacy to advise that a request has been made and invite comment. Any comments received will be provided to the Minister with the request.
Pharmacists who are invited to, and provide comment on a request, will also be advised of the Minister’s decision.
Are there any matters that the Minister will not take into account when considering a request?
The commercial interests of the pharmacist making the request, or of any other party, are not generally considered to be relevant.
What happens if the Minister decides to exercise the discretionary power?
When the Minister exercises their discretionary power, the Minister will substitute the Secretary’s decision not to approve the pharmacist with a decision to approve the pharmacist. The Minister may attach conditions to such an approval.
As soon as practicable after the Minister’s decision, the Department will allocate an approval number to that pharmacist. If the pharmacist has not already provided evidence that they are permitted under the relevant State or Territory law to carry on business as a pharmacist at the proposed premises, they must provide such evidence before the approval is activated to allow claims for supplies of pharmaceutical benefits to be made.
An approval granted by the Minister using this discretionary power is treated, for all intents and purposes, as if it were an approval granted under section 90 of the Act. That is, the approved pharmacist has the same rights and obligations as any other approved pharmacist.
If a pharmacist approved by the Minister subsequently wishes to relocate the pharmacy, they will be required to submit an application for consideration against the requirements of the Pharmacy Location Rules. In addition, if the Minister has attached conditions to the approval regarding future relocations, the pharmacist must comply with those conditions.
Can an applicant or a third party appeal a decision of the Minister to approve or not approve a request?
Applicants or third parties who believe they are aggrieved by the Minister’s decision may be entitled to seek a review by a federal court. It is recommended that independent legal advice be obtained before proceeding.
