PBS Doctor's Bag Scheme Australia — Who's Eligible, What's Included

A Complete Guide for Prescribers

How the PBS prescriber bag scheme works, who is eligible, what is supplied, and how to order

Information only  •  Not medical advice  •  Last updated: 2025

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Doctor's Bag provision allows eligible registered medical practitioners to obtain certain PBS-listed medicines at no charge for use in the immediate treatment of their patients.

These medicines are intended to be carried by the practitioner for emergency and urgent clinical use — circumstances where a patient requires treatment before they can access a pharmacy or hospital.

The scheme is administered by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care under the National Health Act 1953. It is not a commercial arrangement, and pricing of supplied medicines is not determined by suppliers.

Not all health practitioners are eligible for Doctor's Bag supplies under the PBS. Eligibility is determined by the PBS and related legislation.

Generally eligible

•     Medical practitioners registered with AHPRA who provide direct patient care

•     Practitioners working in general practice, including solo and group practices

•     Practitioners in rural and remote locations

•     Practitioners who conduct home visits or provide emergency responses

Important eligibility conditions

•     You must be an eligible PBS prescriber

•     Medicines must be intended for immediate patient treatment, not for resale or dispensing as a pharmacy

•     Ordering must comply with approved quantities and supply intervals as set by the PBS

•     Medicines are for use on patients you are directly treating — not for distribution

The PBS Doctor's Bag approved list — sometimes referred to in practice as the 'prescriber bag supplies order book' — contains a defined range of PBS-listed medicines approved for this purpose.

The approved medications are not determined by suppliers. The list is published and maintained by the Australian Government and may change when the PBS Schedule is updated.

Categories typically included

•     Analgesics (pain management in urgent care settings)

•     Antiemetics

•     Antihistamines

•     Antimicrobials (certain indications)

•     Bronchodilators

•     Cardiovascular agents (emergency use)

•     Corticosteroids

•     Local anaesthetics

•     Respiratory medications

•     Other urgently needed medicines as approved by the PBS

Under the PBS, prescribers may order Doctor's Bag supplies through approved suppliers. The ordering process has historically been manual — typically involving paper-based PBS supply forms, faxing, or form submission.

Online ordering platforms now exist that allow eligible prescribers to submit orders digitally, reducing administrative time.

Typical ordering process

1.  Confirm your AHPRA registration and PBS prescriber status

2.  Identify which PBS-approved Doctor's Bag items you require

3.  Submit a supply request to an approved supplier via the approved form or ordering system

4.  Supplier verifies prescriber credentials and processes the order

5.  Medicines are dispensed and delivered at no charge to the prescriber

The PBS specifies approved quantities and intervals for Doctor's Bag orders. These rules exist to prevent misuse and to ensure the scheme remains sustainable.

Prescribers using Doctor's Bag supplies remain subject to their full professional obligations, including those set by AHPRA and the relevant Medical Board of Australia.

TGA obligations

•     Medicines supplied through the PBS Doctor's Bag scheme are registered therapeutic goods regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)

•     Prescribers must use medicines in accordance with their approved indications and TGA-registered conditions of use

•     Off-label use remains the prescriber's clinical and professional responsibility

•     Medicines must be stored in accordance with TGA requirements (temperature, light, security)

AHPRA and Medical Board obligations

•     Use of Doctor's Bag supplies is subject to the Good Medical Practice standards published by the Medical Board of Australia

•     Medicines must be used for direct patient treatment, not supplied to patients as a dispensing arrangement

•     Practitioners must not use the Doctor's Bag scheme to circumvent normal prescribing and dispensing processes

•     Records of Doctor's Bag use should be maintained as part of good clinical governance

Medicines obtained through the Doctor's Bag scheme must be stored appropriately to maintain their integrity and comply with TGA requirements.

•     Store all medicines as per manufacturer and TGA guidelines (temperature, humidity, light exposure)

•     Regularly audit your Doctor's Bag for expired medicines

•     Expired or degraded medicines must be disposed of appropriately — not used on patients

•     Cold-chain items must be maintained in appropriate refrigeration at all times

•     Medicines must be kept in secure storage to prevent theft or unauthorised access

The following official resources are the authoritative sources of information for the PBS Doctor's Bag scheme:

This page is published as general public information about the PBS Doctor's Bag scheme in Australia. It does not contain medical advice, prescribing advice, or regulatory guidance. No therapeutic claims are made about any medicines. All supply, eligibility, and quantity decisions are governed by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and relevant Australian legislation — not by the publisher of this page.

This content is intended to be read by registered medical practitioners and eligible prescribers. It is not directed at patients or the general public. Content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute advertising of any therapeutic good under the meaning of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 or the TGA Advertising Code.