This week, we welcomed the PBAC decision to add ceftriaxone injection to the Prescriber Bag.
This week, we welcomed the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) decision to add ceftriaxone injection to the Prescriber Bag - a critical antibiotic for the rapid treatment of sepsis, meningitis, and gonorrhoea. This is a direct result of AMA advocacy and will save lives in urgent care settings.
The AMA strongly advocated for a comprehensive update to the Doctor's/Prescriber's Bag , calling for the inclusion of a range of modern, evidence-based emergency medicines to better support GPs and patients, especially in rural and remote areas.
Our contributions reflected feedback provided by the AMA's broader membership and aligned with similar submissions from multiple state and territory AMAs.
While we welcome this PBAC decision, many of our recommendations, such as the addition of ondansetron for severe nausea and vomiting, and olanzapine for acute psychiatric emergencies, were not adopted in this round. The PBAC cited regulatory barriers, including lack of TGA-approved indications and PBS General Schedule listings, as the main reasons.
Our calls for increased maximum quantities of essential medicines like adrenaline, furosemide, and salbutamol were also not accepted, with the PBAC expressing concerns about potential wastage and unclear justification for higher limits.
Other important medicines advocated by the AMA, including emergency contraception, MS-2 Step for medical termination, PEP for HIV, and several first-line antibiotics, were not addressed in this tranche of decisions. We will continue to push for their inclusion.
The committee has indicated some proposals, such as unrestricted access to ondansetron, will be subject to further research and cost analysis, leaving the door open for future consideration.
We will continue calling on the government to work with us and the broader medical community to ensure the Prescriber Bag keeps pace with modern practice and delivers the best possible outcomes for patients.
