PBS Doctors Bag Medication List (Item 157) | Complete Guide for Australian Prescribers

The PBS Prescriber Bag (also known as the Doctor’s Bag or Item 157) is a supply of essential medications provided free of charge by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme to authorised Australian prescribers — Medical Practitioners (MP), Nurse Practitioners (NP), and Midwives (MW). Prescribers can supply these medications free to patients for immediate administration or emergency use, particularly in remote or after-hours settings where pharmacy access is limited.

This guide explains the complete current PBS Prescriber Bag medication list, ordering rules, and how Australian prescribers can replenish their bag through DoctorsBagOnline.

Complete PBS Prescriber Bag Medication List

The current PBS Prescriber Bag includes the following medications. Source: Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, pbs.gov.au/browse/doctorsbag. This list is for reference only — always confirm against the current PBS schedule before ordering.

Emergency & Resuscitation

Cardiac

Respiratory

Neurological & Sedative

Analgesia

Anti-emetic & GI

Antibiotics

Other

Who Can Order a PBS Prescriber Bag?

The PBS Prescriber Bag supply is available to three categories of authorised prescribers, with different scopes:

• Medical Practitioners (MP) — full access to all 34 listed medications
• Nurse Practitioners (NP) — full access to all listed medications
• Authorised Midwives (MW) — restricted to a subset including adrenaline, lidocaine, naloxone, prochlorperazine, and the penicillins

Eligible prescribers must hold a current PBS prescriber number issued by Services Australia. The supply is provided free of charge — you do not pay for the medications themselves, only for delivery and packaging.

How to Order Your PBS Prescriber Bag

Ordering a PBS Prescriber Bag is a simple 3-step process:

1. Complete the PBS Prescriber Bag Supply Order Form (PB157). The form must be completed in triplicate, signed, and dated by the prescriber. The original and duplicate go to the supplying pharmacist.
2. Submit the form to DoctorsBagOnline. Upload the signed order form along with your PBS prescriber number. We verify eligibility against Services Australia records.
3. Receive your bag. Most orders ship same-day from our Australian warehouse with free delivery to clinics nationwide. Cold-chain medications are dispatched with appropriate temperature control.

Download the fillable PB157 order form here, or order the complete PBS Prescriber Bag online.

Maximum Quantity Rules

The PBS sets monthly maximum supply quantities for each prescriber bag medication. Key rules:

• You can order up to the maximum quantity per medication, per calendar month
• You cannot exceed this quantity even if your previous month’s supply is depleted early
• You should not have more than the maximum quantity on hand at any time
• Recordkeeping is required: track all medications administered to patients from your prescriber bag
• Storage must comply with the manufacturer’s instructions (e.g. refrigeration for some items)
• Expired medications should be returned to a pharmacy or destroyed in accordance with your state’s requirements

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the PBS Prescriber Bag (Item 157)?

The PBS Prescriber Bag — sometimes called the “Doctor’s Bag” or “Item 157” — is a free supply of essential medications provided by the Australian Government to authorised Medical Practitioners, Nurse Practitioners, and Midwives. The medications are intended for emergency administration or immediate patient care, particularly in remote, after-hours, or home-visit settings.

How much does the PBS Prescriber Bag cost?

The medications themselves are free for eligible prescribers — that is the entire point of the PBS Prescriber Bag scheme. DoctorsBagOnline charges a small fee for delivery, packaging, and dispensing labour, which is covered by your practice rather than by the patient.

How often can I order a PBS Prescriber Bag?

You can order up to the maximum quantity for each medication once per calendar month. Most prescribers in regular practice order quarterly to keep their bag stocked, while remote/rural prescribers and those with high call-out volumes may need monthly orders.

Do I have to order all 34 medications?

No. You only order the medications you actually need. Some prescribers who don’t carry opioids in their bag will skip the morphine entries; midwives have a more limited list of eligible medications. The “Complete PBS Prescriber Bag” we sell includes the most commonly ordered subset, and you can add or omit individual items.

Where is Redipred (liquid prednisolone) on the list?

Redipred is not currently on the PBS Prescriber Bag (Item 157) list. The bag includes injectable hydrocortisone (100 mg and 250 mg) for emergency corticosteroid administration. Redipred is widely prescribed for paediatric asthma, croup, and other indications, but it is supplied as a regular PBS prescription rather than as a prescriber bag item. DoctorsBagOnline supplies Redipred as a separate item — see our Redipred 30 mL product page or our Redipred Paediatric Dose Guide for dosing information.

What is the difference between Item 157 and Section 100?

Item 157 specifically refers to the PBS Prescriber Bag determination — the medication list and supply rules for prescriber bags. Section 100 of the National Health Act covers a broader range of special PBS arrangements including IVF, growth hormone, and HIV treatments. The Prescriber Bag scheme sits within the broader Section 100 framework but is governed by Item 157.

Can I delegate prescriber bag medications to nursing staff?

The medications must be administered by, or under the direct supervision of, the prescriber to whom they were supplied. Standing orders and delegation arrangements vary by state and territory — consult your state health department’s regulations and AHPRA guidance for your specific scope.

What if a medication is missing from my bag at an emergency?

The PBS Prescriber Bag is intended as a supplement to standard practice, not as a sole supply for emergencies. In genuine emergencies, contact the Australian Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26) or call 000 for ambulance and ED transfer. For urgent restocking after a call-out, DoctorsBagOnline offers same-day dispatch on most orders to keep your bag prepared.

Order Your PBS Prescriber Bag from DoctorsBagOnline

DoctorsBagOnline is an Australian-owned supplier of the complete PBS Prescriber Bag and individual prescriber bag medications. We deliver Australia-wide with same-day dispatch on most orders, free standard delivery, and full compliance with Services Australia PBS bag rules.

• Order the complete PBS Prescriber Bag
• Browse all individual prescriber bag medications
• Download the fillable PB157 order form
• Redipred (liquid prednisolone) paediatric dose guide

Last reviewed: April 2026. Information sourced from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (pbs.gov.au/browse/doctorsbag). Always verify against the current PBS schedule before ordering. This page is provided as a reference for Australian prescribers only and is not a substitute for the official PBS determination schedule.