Doctor's Bag Checklist Australia: Complete PBS Prescriber Bag Item List (2026)

This information is intended for AHPRA-registered prescribers in Australia. It reproduces item data from Schedule 1 of the National Health (Prescriber Bag Supplies) Determination 2024 (F2024L00414, as amended), cross-referenced to the live PBS Prescriber Bag schedule, for the purpose of supporting correct ordering and stock management. It does not constitute medical, pharmaceutical, compliance, or legal advice, and is not intended as advertising of any therapeutic good under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (Cth). The PBS formulary is updated through monthly amendments, always reconfirm against the current PBS Prescriber Bag schedule and Services Australia before ordering.

Keeping your PBS Doctor's Bag fully stocked requires more than remembering to place a monthly order. It requires knowing exactly what you have on hand, what needs replenishing, what is approaching expiry, and whether you have already ordered this calendar month. Without a system, it is easy to miss items, misapply group limits, or discover a critical gap mid-emergency.

This guide provides a complete, verified PBS Doctor's Bag checklist for Australian prescribers. It covers every item currently on the PBS schedule, organised by therapeutic category, with direct CMI links, exact quantities, storage requirements, prescriber eligibility codes, and a structured monthly audit process. For context on the scheme itself, see our complete guide to the PBS Doctor's Bag scheme.

How to Use This Checklist

1. Audit your current stock. Work through each section, count what you have on hand, and check expiry dates on every item.
2. Apply the stock-on-hand rule. You may only order enough to reach the maximum. Where therapeutic groups apply, calculate totals across the entire group, not per item.
3. Place your order. One order per calendar month. Use your triplicate supply order form or order online through DocPouch.

For worked examples of group limit calculations, see our guide to PBS Doctor's Bag maximum quantities explained.

Prescriber eligibility codes used in the tables below:
MP = Medical Practitioner. NP = Authorised Nurse Practitioner. MW = Endorsed Midwife.

CMI links open the Consumer Medicine Information page for each drug on the TGA medicines register. Where more than one brand is listed, select the brand you hold. Always verify storage against the specific brand's product information.

1. Emergency and Resuscitation

Group 57 note: Items 11233F (10-ampoule pack) and 10786Q (5-ampoule pack × 2) are both Group 57. Maximum is 10 ampoules total. Order one item code, not both.

2. Cardiovascular

Furosemide groups note: Group 10 (injection) and Group 60 (tablets) are separate groups. Both may be ordered independently, subject to stock-on-hand rules.

3. Respiratory

Salbutamol groups note: Group 59 covers the 2.5 mg nebuliser solutions (both pack sizes) and the MDI inhaler. Maximum 1 unit across the group. Group 28 covers the 5 mg nebuliser solutions (both pack sizes). Maximum 1 unit across that group. Groups 59 and 28 are independent, so you may order one from each.

4. Analgesia and Sedation

Critical, Group 14 (morphine): All four morphine item codes share Group 14. The maximum is 5 ampoules total across the entire group, not 5 per strength. A prescriber holding 3 × morphine 10 mg and 2 × morphine 15 mg has reached the Group 14 maximum and cannot order any morphine this month. This is set by section 7(3) of the National Health (Prescriber Bag Supplies) Determination 2024 (F2024L00414).

S8 storage obligation: Morphine (all four item codes) and midazolam are Schedule 8 controlled substances. State and territory legislation requires storage in a locked receptacle meeting specific standards. Requirements vary by jurisdiction, so confirm with your state health department or drugs and poisons regulator.

5. Antiemetics and Gastrointestinal

Group 18 note: Metoclopramide and prochlorperazine share Group 18, so 10 ampoules maximum combined. Note that endorsed midwives (MW) are eligible for prochlorperazine (3477B) but not metoclopramide (3476Y).

6. Neurological and Sedation

7. Antipsychotics

Group 4 note: Chlorpromazine and haloperidol share Group 4. Maximum 10 ampoules combined across both items.

8. Anti-infectives

Benzylpenicillin groups note: The 600 mg vials (Group 17) and the 3 g vial (Group 32) are separate groups. Both may be ordered independently.

Group 58 note: Both benzathine benzylpenicillin formulations share Group 58. Maximum 10 units total, so order one formulation, not both.

Group 63 note: Both ceftriaxone item codes give 5 vials (15171L is dispensed as half its 10-vial pack). They share Group 63, so order one item code only.

9. Corticosteroids

Group 12 note: Both hydrocortisone strengths share Group 12. Individual item maximums are 2 vials (100 mg) and 1 vial (250 mg). Where both are held, refer to the PBS schedule for the current group-level maximum.

10. Local Anaesthetic, Vaccines and Other

Storage Quick Reference

All storage requirements below are sourced from Australian CMI and product information as published by the TGA and on NPS MedicineWise. Always confirm against the specific brand's current CMI.

Refrigeration required (2 to 8°C), do not freeze

• Diphtheria plus tetanus vaccine, 3463G (ADT Booster). Refrigerate. Do not freeze, as freezing destroys the vaccine.
• Benzathine benzylpenicillin syringe, 11755Q (Bicillin L-A). Refrigerate 2 to 8°C. Do not freeze. Per the Australian CMI, may be stored below 30°C for a single period of up to 2 months prior to expiry. Once removed from refrigerated storage, it cannot be returned. Write the date of removal from the fridge on the carton.

Below 30°C (not refrigerated, not frozen)

• Salbutamol MDI, 12108G (Ventolin or Asmol CFC-free puffer). Store below 30°C.
• Methoxyflurane, 3489P (Penthrox). Store below 30°C. Keep away from heat and open flame.
• Benzatropine mesilate, 11265X. Store below 30°C. Protect from light. Do not freeze.
• Haloperidol, 3456X (Serenace). Store below 30°C. Protect from light.

Below 25°C (room temperature, specific items)

• Glucagon hydrochloride, 3467L (GlucaGen Hypokit). Per the Australian CMI, store below 25°C. Refrigeration is acceptable but not required.
• Benzathine benzylpenicillin powder, 15053G. Store below 25°C. No refrigeration required, unlike the Bicillin L-A syringe.
• Salbutamol nebuliser solutions, 3496B, 11125M, 3497C, 11088N. Store below 25°C. Keep in carton. Do not freeze.

Schedule 8 (S8) controlled substances, locked storage required

• Morphine, 10862Q, 3479D, 10868B, 3480E (all four item codes).
• Midazolam, 10178Q.

Protect from light (store below 25°C unless noted above)

• Adrenaline (3451P). Atropine (3453R). Naloxone (11233F, 10786Q).
• Furosemide injection (3466K). Furosemide tablets (12222G). GTN spray (3475X, do not refrigerate).
• Morphine all strengths (10862Q, 3479D, 10868B, 3480E). Tramadol injection (3484J).
• Midazolam (10178Q, do not refrigerate). Metoclopramide (3476Y). Prochlorperazine (3477B).
• Hyoscine butylbromide (3473T). Clonazepam oral liquid (3478C). Chlorpromazine (3455W).
• Benzatropine (11265X). Haloperidol (3456X, store below 30°C).
• Benzylpenicillin 600 mg (3486L). Benzylpenicillin 3 g (3487M).
• Ceftriaxone (15171L, 15179X). Hydrocortisone (3470P, 3471Q).
• Phytomenadione (10213M).

Monthly Audit Workflow (10 Steps)

1. Set a recurring calendar reminder for day 1 to 3 of each month.
2. Empty your bag completely. Remove everything. Do not audit in situ.
3. Check expiry dates on every item. Set aside anything expiring within 30 days for pharmacy return and replacement.
4. Check temperature-sensitive items. Confirm glucagon (3467L) has been stored below 25°C and has not been frozen (freezing damages the glass syringe). Confirm diphtheria and tetanus vaccine (3463G) and Bicillin L-A syringe (11755Q) have been correctly refrigerated at 2 to 8°C. Confirm benzatropine (11265X), haloperidol (3456X), and methoxyflurane (3489P) have been stored below 30°C. If any temperature-sensitive item has been exposed to incorrect conditions, treat as compromised and do not use.
5. Confirm S8 items are in locked storage. Morphine and midazolam.
6. Count stock for every item individually. Record quantities on hand.
7. Calculate group totals. For Groups 4, 14, 18, 28, 57, 58, 59, 63, sum across all items in the group to get your total held.
8. Calculate order quantities. For each item or group, maximum quantity minus stock on hand equals what you may order. Do not order items already at maximum.
9. Confirm you have not already ordered this calendar month. One order per prescriber per month, no exceptions.
10. Place your order and file your receipt. Submit via triplicate form to your supplier, or order online through DocPouch. Sign and file the receipt when delivery arrives.

Items No Longer Listed

The following items have appeared in earlier versions of the Prescriber Bag schedule but should be cross-checked against the live PBS schedule before any order attempt, as their status has changed by amendment to F2024L00414:

• Molnupiravir, capsule 200 mg.
• Nirmatrelvir and ritonavir (Paxlovid-type pack).
• Procaine benzylpenicillin, injection 1.5 g.
• Promethazine, injection 50 mg in 2 mL.

If you hold stock of a delisted item, it cannot be reordered under the scheme. Contact your approved supplier about appropriate disposal.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I confirm this checklist is still current?

This checklist is written against the National Health (Prescriber Bag Supplies) Determination 2024 (F2024L00414) and the live PBS Prescriber Bag schedule. The PBS formulary is amended monthly. Before each order, cross-reference the current PBS Doctor's Bag page. Subscribe to PBS News updates via the PBS website to be notified of changes.

Can NPs order methoxyflurane and phytomenadione (Vitamin K)?

Yes, per the current live PBS schedule. Methoxyflurane (3489P) and phytomenadione (10213M) are both listed as MP, NP eligible. Note this reflects PBS amendments subsequent to the original F2024L00414 text, which listed both as MP only. NPs should confirm against their individual scope of practice before ordering.

How do I dispose of expired S8 items from my Doctor's Bag?

Expired morphine and midazolam ampoules cannot be placed in general waste or flushed. State and territory drugs and poisons legislation requires Schedule 8 destruction to be witnessed and recorded. The practical pathway in every state is to return expired S8 stock to an approved pharmacy for destruction by a pharmacist, with a written record of the item, strength, quantity, batch number, and expiry date. The pharmacist completes a destruction record, and you retain a copy for your S8 register. Never attempt self-destruction. If your state requires witnessing by a second authorised person or notification to the health department, your supplying pharmacy can advise on the exact local procedure. See the TGA scheduling guidance and your state drugs and poisons regulator for jurisdiction-specific rules.

Do I need to record batch numbers when I administer from my Doctor's Bag?

For S8 items (morphine and midazolam), yes. State and territory drugs and poisons legislation requires a running S8 register that records, as a minimum, the drug name and strength, quantity received and administered, date, patient name, batch number, and expiry date. For S4 items, batch number recording is not mandated in every state for bag items, but best practice, and mandatory for vaccines such as ADT Booster (3463G), is to record the batch number, dose, site, and expiry against the patient record. The Australian Immunisation Handbook requires batch number recording for every vaccine dose administered. In practice, recording batch and expiry for every item you administer from the bag is both auditable and protective if a later safety signal arises (for example, a recall).

Can I order my Prescriber Bag online?

DocPouch provides online PBS Prescriber Bag ordering for all eligible prescriber types, with same-day dispatch for orders verified before 4 PM AEST and nationwide delivery. See our guide to ordering online.

What happens if I order an item that has been removed from the schedule?

An informed supplier should not dispense a delisted item. If you are unsure whether an item is currently listed, check the live PBS schedule before completing your order form.

Disclaimer: This checklist is intended for AHPRA-registered prescribers in Australia and reproduces item data from Schedule 1 of the National Health (Prescriber Bag Supplies) Determination 2024 (F2024L00414, as amended), cross-referenced to the live PBS Prescriber Bag schedule, for the purpose of supporting correct ordering, stock management, and storage compliance. It does not constitute medical, pharmaceutical, compliance, or legal advice, and is not intended as advertising of any therapeutic good under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (Cth). Where specific medicines, brands, item codes, strengths, and storage requirements are referenced, they are reproduced from the Determination and from published Consumer Medicine Information for the sole purpose of ordering reference and safe storage guidance. The supply of pharmaceutical benefits under the PBS Prescriber Bag scheme is governed by the National Health Act 1953 (Cth) and the Determination, which are subject to amendment. Possession, storage, and record-keeping obligations are additionally governed by state and territory drugs and poisons legislation, which varies between jurisdictions and takes precedence over any general guidance. Prescribers are responsible for verifying current items, quantities, group allocations, prescriber-type eligibility, and storage requirements against the current PBS Prescriber Bag schedule and each product's current CMI before placing any order, and for complying with all applicable Commonwealth, state, and territory legislation. PBS Prescriber Bag supplies may be obtained from any approved pharmacy under the scheme, including community pharmacies, hospital pharmacies, and pharmacy-operated online ordering services. DocPouch (docpouch.com.au) is an ordering platform operated through Priceline Pharmacy Sunshine Marketplace and does not provide medical, pharmaceutical, compliance, or legal advice. Data verified against the live PBS schedule, April 2026. Last reviewed: April 2026.