Since August 2006 a number of medicines have been listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) specifically for people who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee recommended these authority-required listings to improve the capacity of the PBS to meet the particular healthcare needs of these people. Most are streamlined authority listings. Box 1 lists the medicines currently subsidised on the PBS for treating common conditions in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. To keep up to date with future listings, go to the health professionals' site at www.pbs.gov.au, click on 'PBS publications' and scroll to the 'PBS listings for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people' fact sheet.
Box 1
Authority-required PBS listings* for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (as at 1 July 2009)
Dermatophyte infection when topical treatment has failed
Terbinafine hydrochloride tablet, 250 mg
Nicotine dependence as the sole PBS-subsidised therapy
Nicotine transdermal patch, releasing approximately 15 mg per 16 hours
Nasal colonisation with Staphylococcus aureus
Mupirocin nasal ointment, 2%
* Authority-required listings are streamlined except for ciprofloxacin ear drops and terbinafine hydrochloride tablets
Date published: 01 August 2009
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