PBS listing changes effective 1 May 2025

Services Australia have announced recent changes to Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) effective from 1 May 2025. This includes listings relevant to psychiatric practice reprinted below:

• Schizophrenia
  Aripiprazole (720 mg/2.4 mL modified release injection, 2.4mL syringe; 960 mg/3.2 mL modified release injection, 3.2mL syringe; (Abilify Asimtufii®) is now listed on the PBS for the treatment of schizophrenia. Prescriptions for treatment are Authority required (STREAMLINED). 
• Treatment resistant major depression
  Esketamine (28 mg/2 actuations nasal spray, 2 actuations; 28 mg/2 actuations nasal spray, 2 x 2 actuations; 28 mg/2 actuations nasal spray, 3 x 2 actuations) (Spravato®) is now listed on the PBS for the treatment of treatment resistant major depression. Authority applications for initial (induction), grandfather and continuing (non-induction) treatments can be made either in real-time using the Online PBS Authorities system of by telephone.

 Further details about these and other listing changes are available via the PBS website.