"Historic legislation" allows authorised nurses to prescribe PBS medicines

The Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025 has passed, giving registered nurses PBS prescribing powers for the first time. The bill will amend the National Health Act 1953 to allow authorised nurses — in partnership with an authorised health practitioner — to prescribe medicines subsidised by the PBS.

In what the Australian Government calls “historic legislation”, this reform will be available to Registered Nurses (RNs) who have undertaken studies as required by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), the Australian Government advised, with the first RNs having already been endorsed by the NMBA, and others due to graduate in July.

Changes to PBS administrative systems required to support it will be ready from 1 October 2026. Recommendations by the Scope of Practice Review, a major element of the Australian Government’s comprehensive reforms to strengthen Medicare and the health system, supported the reforms.

“Expanding the scope of practice for suitably qualified nurses will make it much easier for people in many rural and remote communities to get the medicines they need,” said Mark Butler, Australia’s Minister for Health and Ageing. “This reform creates greater opportunities for nurses to contribute to multidisciplinary team-based care improving access to care for all Australians.

“As the most trusted health professional group, designated Registered Nurse prescribers will improve choice and access for vulnerable people,” Butler said. “I want to thank the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia and the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officers for the extensive research and consultation they have undertaken to support this change.”

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee has begun considering which medicines should be available for prescribing by designated RNs, the Australian Government said, also stating that the new legislation follows the December 2024 approval by all state and federal health ministers of a new national registration standard for “designated registered nurse prescribers”.

The NMBA’s registration standard commenced on 30 September 2025. More information on the bill is available here.

Image credit: iStock.com/sturti