Posted by Michael Wonder on 21 Aug 2020
Simplified prescribing arrangements for chemotherapy patients during the COVID-19 pandemic
21 August 2020 - Amendments to the National Health (Efficient Funding of Chemotherapy) Special Arrangement 2011 and the establishment of a standalone instrument National Health (Chemotherapy Prescribing) Special Arrangement 2020 commenced on 20 August 2020.
The Efficient Funding of Chemotherapy (EFC) Special Arrangement relates to the supply under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) of infusible chemotherapy medicines to eligible patients being treated in, at or from approved public and private hospitals.
The EFC Special Arrangement also deals with the supply of PBS medicines associated with the side-effects of cancer and cancer treatment (‘related pharmaceutical benefits’) at certain public hospitals.
To improve the efficient dispensing of PBS chemotherapy medicines to patients, a two-stage approach has been put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.
