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PBS subsidy arrangements for estradiol transdermal patches SSSI

19 Nov 2024

The Department of Health and Aged Care has made amendments to the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) (Pharmacist Substitution of Medicines without Prescription during Shortages) Determination 2021. This is following the issuance of the Therapeutic Goods (Serious Scarcity and Substitutable Medicine) (Estradiol) Instrument 2024, which will allow pharmacists to supply different brand and strength of estradiol transdermal patches equivalent dose for the duration of the shortage provided specified conditions are met.

If the substitutable medicine is an authority approved prescription, the PBS Online warnings (reason code 162 or 163) can be disregarded in this circumstance.

If the required quantity is more than the listed maximum quantity, the authority prescription number '00000246' should be used. The PBS Online warning (reason code 151) can be disregarded in this circumstance.

The estradiol (Estramon Germany) packs of 24 are not included in the estradiol SSSI.

Further information about the substitution is available on the PBS Medicine Shortages page.