Prescription Dispensing

Types of Prescriptions


There are different types of prescriptions available in Australia:

  • Private
  • Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) - includes general scripts, concessional scripts (Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card & Commonwealth Seniors' Health Card) issued by Centrelink, and safety net scripts (issued at the pharmacy on behalf of the Health Insurance Commission)
  • Repatriation (RPBS) - concession cards issued by the Department of Veterans' Affair

Private Prescriptions

Some prescriptions are not subsidised by the government, leaving the patient to fully pay for the item. As many private prescriptions can be claimed back through Private Health Funds, relevant receipts will be provided.

Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)

The PBS is a system of subsidising the cost of most prescription medicines. The subsidies are available to all Australian residents and eligible foreign visitors (where reciprocal health care arrangements with Australia exists), and are covered by a Medicare card.
Prescription Record Form (PRF) stickers will be supplied with all PBS prescriptions and Safety Net Totals will be kept for patients.

Concession Cards

Pensioners, Seniors' Health Care, Veterans' Affairs cardholders, and CN cardholders


Safety Net

If you and your family require large amounts of PBS prescriptions in any one-year, a Safety Net threshold exists to protect you financially. Once this threshold is reached you can apply for a Safety Net card enabling you to receive PBS prescriptions at a concessional rate. A family can include:

  • A spouse or de facto spouse
  • Children under 16 in your care; and
  • Full-time dependent students under 25.


To be eligible for the Safety Net, you must keep a total of your PBS prescription expenditure. As individual pharmacies are not linked, records are only kept for prescriptions dispensed in each pharmacy. At Campus Pharmacy we will keep records of all PBS prescriptions dispensed by us for Safety Net purposes. If you use different pharmacies (including hospital pharmacies) you should keep your own prescription record form.