PBAC considers broader PBS access to common antidepressants
20 Oct 2026
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) has recommended changes to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) listings for 14 antidepressants following its September 2026 meeting.
The proposal aims to bring PBS subsidy rules closer to current clinical practice. The full details of the estimated cost to the PBS have not yet been released.
The 14 medicines covered by the recommendations are citalopram, clomipramine, desvenlafaxine, duloxetine, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, mianserin, mirtazapine, moclobemide, nortriptyline, paroxetine, sertraline and venlafaxine.
For 30-day supplies of these 14 antidepressants in solid oral forms, the PBAC recommends changing their PBS listing from ‘Restricted Benefit’ to ‘Unrestricted Benefit’. This would remove the existing indication and eligibility requirements.
For 60-day supplies, the committee recommends keeping the ‘Restricted Benefit’ status but removing wording tied to specific conditions. The existing clinical requirement that a patient's condition be stable would remain, in line with the PBS Continued Dispensing Arrangements and the Government's 60-day dispensing rules.
GPs issue more than 80% of antidepressant prescriptions in Australia. The proposed changes could reduce administrative work for general practice and help patients access treatment through the PBS.
Dr Karen Spielman, Chair of the RACGP Specific Interests Psychological Medicine group, has backed the recommendations.
She told newsGP that these medicines are commonly prescribed by GPs for a range of conditions. She also welcomed changes that would help GPs provide individualised care and follow-up when they are confident about a medicine's safety and appropriate use.
For escitalopram oral liquid, the PBAC recommends keeping the ‘Restricted Benefit’ status, removing indication-specific wording and adding a requirement that patients be unable to swallow the solid form.
Antidepressant use in Australia is among the highest in the world, with an estimated 14% of the population receiving these medicines through dispensing services.
Although the medicines can be used to treat a broader range of mental health conditions, PBS subsidies are currently limited to specified indications. As a result, some patients may need private prescriptions for clinically appropriate treatment, which can create financial and access barriers.
Dr Spielman said updating the listings would help address restrictions that no longer reflect everyday clinical practice.
She described the proposed changes as a positive step towards aligning PBS rules with how these medicines are used in practice.
PBAC considers broader PBS access to common antidepressants
Source: Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee — September 2026 intracycle meeting recommendations.