PBS prescribing legislation marks next milestone for registered nurse prescribing
The Australian Government has passed legislation enabling designated Registered Nurse prescribers to prescribe medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), representing another significant milestone in the implementation of registered nurse prescribing in Australia.
The legislation builds on the commencement of the Registration standard: Endorsement for scheduled medicines – designated registered nurse prescriber in 2025, which established the national regulatory framework for endorsed registered nurse prescribers.
At the same time, Anmac's Registered Nurse Prescribing Accreditation Standards came into effect, providing the national framework for accrediting education programs that prepare nurses for this expanded scope of practice.
"The passage of this legislation marks an important step in the implementation of registered nurse prescribing in Australia," said Dr Mel Lauva, Director of Accreditation Services at Anmac.
"Anmac's role is to ensure the education preparing designated Registered Nurse prescribers meets nationally agreed accreditation standards. Through high-quality, nationally consistent education, we can be confident nurses are equipped with the knowledge, skills and clinical capability required to prescribe safely and effectively, supporting better access to care while continuing to protect the Australian community."
The Registered Nurse Prescribing Accreditation Standards were developed following extensive consultation with regulators, education providers, clinicians, professional bodies and other key stakeholders. They establish nationally consistent requirements for postgraduate education leading to endorsement as a designated Registered Nurse prescriber.
As education providers continue to develop and deliver accredited prescribing programs, Anmac's role is to ensure those programs meet rigorous national accreditation standards that support safe, effective prescribing and protect the Australian community.
The legislation passed by the Australian Government is expected to enable endorsed Registered Nurse prescribers to prescribe PBS medicines from 1 October 2026, following the implementation of supporting administrative arrangements.
Anmac will continue working with education providers and partners across the health sector to support the safe implementation of registered nurse prescribing through nationally consistent accreditation.
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