This information is intended for AHPRA-registered prescribers in Australia. It summarises publicly available PBS Prescriber Bag maximum quantity and therapeutic group rules and does not constitute medical, pharmaceutical, compliance, or legal advice. Where specific medicines are referenced, they are reproduced from Schedule 1 of the National Health (Prescriber Bag Supplies) Determination 2024 (F2024L00414, as amended) for the purpose of illustrating the Determination's ordering and group-limit rules, and are not intended as advertising of any therapeutic good under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (Cth). Always refer to the current PBS Prescriber Bag schedule and Services Australia for authoritative information on items, maximum quantities, group allocations, and prescriber-type eligibility. Data verified against the live PBS schedule, April 2026.
The maximum quantity rules for the PBS Doctor's Bag are one of the most frequently misunderstood aspects of the scheme. Many prescribers assume the maximums listed in the PBS schedule represent how much they can order each month. In reality, the rules are more nuanced, and ordering the wrong quantity can result in a rejected order, a compliance issue, or an unnecessary gap in your emergency supply.
This guide explains exactly how PBS Doctor's Bag maximum quantities work, how therapeutic groupings affect what you can order, and how to calculate the correct quantity for each item at the time you place your order. For a broader overview of the scheme, see our complete guide to the PBS Doctor's Bag scheme.
The Two-Part Rule You Need to Understand
Maximum quantity limits for the PBS Prescriber Bag operate on two levels simultaneously:
- The absolute maximum per item or group. The highest number of units you may ever hold at any one time for a given item or group of items.
- The stock-on-hand rule. You may only order enough to bring your current stock up to the maximum. You cannot order the full maximum if you already hold some of that item.
Taken together, these two rules mean the quantity you can legitimately order at any given time is not fixed. It depends on what you already have in your bag.
How the Stock-on-Hand Rule Works
Under section 7 of the National Health (Prescriber Bag Supplies) Determination 2024 (F2024L00414), made under sections 93 and 93AB of the National Health Act 1953 (Cth), the maximum quantity is the number of units listed in Schedule 1 for each item. However, if a prescriber already holds one or more units of that item (or a grouped item), the quantity they may order is reduced accordingly.
In plain language: you cannot order 10 ampoules if you already have 6 on your shelf. You may only order 4.
Worked Example: Simple Item
| Item | PBS Maximum | Current Stock on Hand | Quantity You May Order |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atropine sulfate 600 mcg injection (Group 3) | 10 ampoules | 4 ampoules | 6 ampoules |
| GTN spray (Group 30) | 1 unit | 1 unit (unopened) | 0 (cannot order this month) |
| Glucagon injection kit (Group 26) | 1 kit | 0 kits | 1 kit |
| Tramadol injection (Group 16) | 5 ampoules | 5 ampoules | 0 (already at maximum) |
Understanding Therapeutic Groups
The group system is where maximum quantity rules become most complex, and where most ordering errors occur.
The PBS Prescriber Bag schedule assigns each item a Group Number. Where multiple items share the same Group Number, the maximum quantity limit applies across all items in that group combined, not separately to each item.
This means: if you hold some ampoules of Item A in Group 14, the remaining quantity you can order from Group 14 (including other strengths in the same group) is reduced accordingly. You cannot order the full maximum for each item independently.
Worked Example: Group Items (Morphine, Group 14)
All four morphine strengths share Group 14 with a maximum of 5 ampoules across the group.
| Item code | Item (Group 14) | Group Maximum | Current Stock on Hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10862Q | Morphine HCl 10 mg/mL injection | 5 ampoules total across Group 14 | 2 ampoules |
| 3479D | Morphine sulfate 15 mg/mL injection | 1 ampoule | |
| 10868B | Morphine HCl 20 mg/mL injection | 0 ampoules | |
| 3480E | Morphine sulfate 30 mg/mL injection | 0 ampoules |
Total Group 14 stock on hand: 3 ampoules
Maximum you may order this month: 5 minus 3 = 2 ampoules (in any combination of morphine strengths).
Worked Example: Group Items (Antipsychotics, Group 4)
Chlorpromazine and haloperidol both sit in Group 4, with a maximum of 10 ampoules across the group.
| Item code | Item (Group 4) | Group Maximum | Current Stock on Hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3455W | Chlorpromazine 50 mg/2 mL injection | 10 ampoules total across Group 4 | 10 ampoules |
| 3456X | Haloperidol 5 mg/mL injection | 0 ampoules |
Total Group 4 stock on hand: 10 ampoules
Maximum you may order this month: 10 minus 10 = 0 ampoules.
Even though you have no haloperidol, you cannot order any Group 4 items this month because your chlorpromazine stock has already reached the group maximum.
Let your pharmacy do the group maths
Calculating group totals correctly every month is a common source of ordering errors. When you order through DocPouch, every order is manually checked by a registered pharmacist against the current PBS Prescriber Bag schedule and your declared stock on hand before it is dispatched. Free national delivery. No prescriber cost.
Current PBS Prescriber Bag Therapeutic Groups: Reference Table
The following table reproduces therapeutic group data from Schedule 1 of the National Health (Prescriber Bag Supplies) Determination 2024 (F2024L00414, as amended), verified against the live PBS schedule as at April 2026. It is provided as an ordering reference to assist prescribers in calculating group-level stock positions. For the authoritative and current schedule, always refer to the PBS website. For a full item-by-item list with storage requirements and CMI links, see our PBS Doctor's Bag checklist. Always confirm against the current PBS schedule before ordering.
| Group | Item codes in group | Drugs | Group maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3451P | Adrenaline (epinephrine) | 5 ampoules |
| 3 | 3453R | Atropine sulfate | 10 ampoules |
| 4 | 3455W, 3456X | Chlorpromazine OR haloperidol | 10 ampoules combined |
| 10 | 3466K | Furosemide injection | 5 ampoules |
| 12 | 3470P, 3471Q | Hydrocortisone 100 mg OR 250 mg | Individual maximums: 2 vials (100 mg), 1 vial (250 mg). Order one item code per calendar month. |
| 14 | 10862Q, 3479D, 10868B, 3480E | All four morphine strengths | 5 ampoules combined across all strengths |
| 16 | 3484J | Tramadol injection | 5 ampoules |
| 17 | 3486L | Benzylpenicillin 600 mg | 5 vials |
| 18 | 3476Y, 3477B | Metoclopramide OR prochlorperazine | 10 ampoules combined |
| 25 | 3463G | Diphtheria + tetanus vaccine (adsorbed) | 10 units (2 packs) |
| 26 | 3467L | Glucagon hydrochloride | 1 kit |
| 28 | 3497C, 11088N | Salbutamol 5 mg nebuliser solution (30-pack or 20-pack) | 1 unit (one item code) |
| 30 | 3475X | Glyceryl trinitrate spray | 1 unit |
| 31 | 11265X | Benzatropine mesilate | 5 vials |
| 32 | 3487M | Benzylpenicillin 3 g | 1 vial |
| 33 | 3473T | Hyoscine butylbromide | 5 ampoules |
| 34 | 3478C | Clonazepam oral liquid | 1 bottle |
| 35 | 3489P | Methoxyflurane | 1 unit |
| 53 | 10178Q | Midazolam injection | 10 ampoules |
| 54 | 10209H | Lidocaine injection | 5 ampoules |
| 55 | 10213M | Phytomenadione (Vitamin K) | 5 ampoules |
| 57 | 11233F, 10786Q | Naloxone (10-ampoule pack OR 5-ampoule pack × 2) | 10 ampoules combined (order one item code) |
| 58 | 15053G, 11755Q | Benzathine benzylpenicillin (powder or prefilled syringe) | 10 units combined (order one formulation) |
| 59 | 12108G, 3496B, 11125M | Salbutamol MDI inhaler OR 2.5 mg nebuliser solution (20-pack or 30-pack) | 1 unit (one item from group) |
| 60 | 12222G | Furosemide tablets | 50 tablets |
| 63 | 15171L, 15179X | Ceftriaxone 2 g (10-vial pack or 5-vial pack) | 5 vials (order one item code) |
Note on items no longer listed: Groups 61 (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir) and 62 (molnupiravir) previously appeared in the Determination. Procaine benzylpenicillin (previously listed under Group 17) is also no longer on the current schedule. These items are not on the current live PBS Prescriber Bag schedule and should not be ordered under the scheme.
What Happens If You Order Too Much?
Ordering in excess of the maximum permitted quantity is a PBS compliance issue. In practice:
- An approved supplier should check your order against the PBS rules and should not dispense more than the permitted quantity.
- If excess stock is supplied in error, the prescriber is responsible for notifying the supplier and returning the excess.
- Repeated or deliberate over-ordering can attract review by Services Australia and may affect your PBS prescribing authority.
The most common cause of ordering errors is prescribers not accounting for existing stock, particularly for items that are rarely used and accumulate in the bag over time. A monthly audit before every order is the best prevention. Use our PBS Doctor's Bag checklist for a structured approach.
Common Scenarios and How the Limits Apply
Scenario 1: New Prescriber, Empty Bag
If you are establishing a new prescriber bag for the first time, you may order up to the maximum quantity for all items you require. Your stock on hand is zero for everything, so the full maximum is available.
Scenario 2: Full Bag, Monthly Reorder
If you have a fully stocked bag and nothing has been used or expired since last month, you cannot order anything this month for items already at maximum. The scheme is designed for monthly replenishment of used or expired stock, not automatic monthly delivery of full quantities regardless of usage.
Scenario 3: Partial Use Across Group Items
You used 3 ampoules of morphine 10 mg last month, leaving 2 ampoules from Group 14 in your bag. This month you want to order morphine 30 mg instead. Your Group 14 total on hand is still 2 ampoules (even though they are a different strength). You may order 3 ampoules total across Group 14 in any combination of the four morphine strengths.
Scenario 4: Item Used in an Emergency
You used your entire GTN spray stock (1 unit) during an acute cardiac emergency. Your Group 30 stock is now zero. This month you may order 1 unit to restore your bag. This is the intended operation of the scheme. Your bag is replenished after emergency use.
Scenario 5: Cold Chain Failure
Your diphtheria/tetanus vaccine or benzathine benzylpenicillin prefilled syringe was exposed to temperatures outside the required 2 to 8°C range during vehicle transport. These items are compromised and must be disposed of appropriately. Return the compromised items to the pharmacy before or at the same time as ordering replacements, so your stock on hand does not briefly exceed the permitted maximum when your order arrives. Note that glucagon (glucagon injection kit) does not require refrigeration (per its Australian CMI, it stores below 25°C), but it must never be frozen, as freezing damages the glass syringe.
Practical Tips
- Audit before every order. Do not estimate from memory. Physically count what you have.
- Calculate group totals, not individual item totals. For any group containing multiple item codes, sum across all items before determining your order quantity.
- Group items together in your bag. Store all Group 4 items together, all Group 14 items together, and so on. This makes monthly counting straightforward.
- Never sign a form for a quantity you have not verified. If your practice manager prepares the form, review every quantity yourself before signing.
- When uncertain, order less. A conservative order within limits is always preferable to an over-supply that creates a compliance issue.
How Online Ordering Supports Compliance
When you order through DocPouch, your order undergoes manual pharmacist verification before dispatch. This provides an additional review layer that helps catch quantity errors before they become compliance issues. For the full ordering process, see our guide to ordering your PBS Doctor's Bag online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the maximum quantity reset each month automatically?
No. The maximum is a cap on total stock held at any time, not a monthly allowance. How much you can order depends entirely on how much you currently have on hand. If your stock has not decreased since last month, you cannot order more of those items.
What if the PBS schedule shows a maximum of 10 but the group rules mean I can only order 2?
The group rule overrides the individual item maximum. Always check your total holdings across the entire group before calculating your order quantity.
Can I split a group order across two months?
No. You may only order once per calendar month. If you are below the group maximum but used an item mid-month, include those quantities in next month's order.
Where can I find the official group numbers?
Group numbers are listed in Schedule 1 of the National Health (Prescriber Bag Supplies) Determination 2024 and on the PBS Doctor's Bag page.
Summary
- Maximum quantities are a cap on total stock held, not a monthly delivery entitlement.
- You can only order what you need to reach the maximum, based on current stock on hand.
- Where items share a therapeutic group, the maximum applies across all items in the group combined.
- Audit stock before every monthly order. Calculate group totals, not individual item holdings alone.
- When uncertain, order conservatively and contact Services Australia or your approved supplier for guidance.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for AHPRA-registered prescribers in Australia and summarises publicly available information about PBS Prescriber Bag maximum quantity and therapeutic group rules. 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 are referenced, they are reproduced from Schedule 1 of the National Health (Prescriber Bag Supplies) Determination 2024 (F2024L00414, as amended) for the sole purpose of illustrating the Determination's ordering and group-limit rules. 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, and prescriber-type eligibility against the current PBS Prescriber Bag schedule before placing any order, and for complying with all applicable Commonwealth, state, and territory legislation. For authoritative guidance on ordering and eligibility, refer to Services Australia. 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.
