Government to cut PBS red tape

Under the changes, the criteria for streamlining authority required medicines will be expanded to include medicines used to treat short-term conditions, where patient safety won't be put at risk.

The changes mean doctors and other prescribers will no longer have to obtain telephone or written approval from Medicare Australia before prescribing some PBS medicines.

There are already about 110 drugs on the streamlined medicines list, with another 50 expected to be added.