PB 71 of 2026
National Health (Floor Price for Certain Brands of Pharmaceutical Items) Amendment Determination (No. 3) 2026
I, Rebecca Richardson, as delegate of the Minister for Health, Disability and Ageing, make the following Determination.
Dated 15 June 2026
Rebecca Richardson
Assistant Secretary
PBS Listing, Pricing and Policy Branch
Technology Assessment and Access Division
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Contents
1 Name
2 Commencement
3 Authority
4 Schedules
Schedule 1—Amendments—Additional designated brands effective from 1 November 2026
National Health (Floor Price for Certain Brands of Pharmaceutical Items) Determination 2023 2
Schedule 2—Amendments—Additional designated brands effective from 1 December 2026
National Health (Floor Price for Certain Brands of Pharmaceutical Items) Determination 2023 3
1 Name
(1) This instrument is the National Health (Floor Price for Certain Brands of Pharmaceutical Items) Amendment Determination (No. 3) 2026.
(2) This instrument may also be cited as PB 71 of 2026.
2 Commencement
(1) Each provision of this instrument specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.
Commencement information |
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
Provisions | Commencement | Date/Details |
1. Sections 1 to 4 and anything in this instrument not elsewhere covered by this table | The day after this instrument is registered. | |
2. Schedule 1 | 1 November 2026 | 1 November 2026 |
3. Schedule 2 | 1 December 2026 | 1 December 2026 |
Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this instrument as originally made. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this instrument.
(2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this instrument. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this instrument.
3 Authority
This instrument is made under subsection 99ADHC(2) of the National Health Act 1953.
4 Schedules
Each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to this instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this instrument has effect according to its terms.
Schedule 1—Amendments—Additional designated brands effective from 1 November 2026
National Health (Floor Price for Certain Brands of Pharmaceutical Items) Determination 2023
1 Section 5 (before table item dealing with the brand Ritalin 10 of the drug Methylphenidate in the form Tablet containing methylphenidate hydrochloride 10 mg)
Insert:
Rinidate | Methylphenidate | Tablet containing methylphenidate hydrochloride 10 mg | Oral |
Schedule 2—Amendments—Additional designated brands effective from 1 December 2026
National Health (Floor Price for Certain Brands of Pharmaceutical Items) Determination 2023
1 Section 5 (before table item dealing with the brand Fosamax Plus 70 mg/140 mcg of the drug Alendronic acid with colecalciferol in the form Tablet 70 mg (as alendronate sodium) with 140 micrograms colecalciferol)
Insert:
Diamox | Acetazolamide | Tablet 250 mg | Oral |
2 Section 5 (after table item dealing with the brand Norimin 28 Day of the drug Norethisterone with ethinylestradiol in the form Pack containing 21 tablets 500 micrograms-35 micrograms and 7 inert tablets)
Insert:
Allegron | Nortriptyline | Tablet 10 mg (as hydrochloride) | Oral |
Allegron | Nortriptyline | Tablet 25 mg (as hydrochloride) | Oral |
Overview
The National Health (Floor Price for Certain Brands of Pharmaceutical Items) Amendment Determination (No. 3) 2026, made by Rebecca Richardson, as delegate of the Minister for Health, Disability and Ageing, was enacted to address the need for updating the list of pharmaceutical brands subject to a floor price under the National Health Act 1953. This determination seeks to ensure that the pricing of essential medications remains affordable and accessible to the public, thereby supporting the policy objective of maintaining equitable access to necessary health treatments. This notifiable instrument amends the National Health (Floor Price for Certain Brands of Pharmaceutical Items) Determination 2023, introducing new brands under the price regulation framework effective from 1 November and 1 December 2026. The enactment of this determination by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing reflects the ongoing commitment to regulate pharmaceutical pricing to benefit public health.
Scope and Application
The National Health (Floor Price for Certain Brands of Pharmaceutical Items) Amendment Determination (No. 3) 2026 applies to designated pharmaceutical brands specified within its schedules, which are amendments to the National Health (Floor Price for Certain Brands of Pharmaceutical Items) Determination 2023. These amendments pertain to additional pharmaceutical brands that will be subject to a floor price under the National Health Act 1953, effective from 1 November 2026 and 1 December 2026. The amendment affects pharmaceutical entities that manufacture, supply, or distribute these designated brands within Australia, ensuring compliance with the set price thresholds. The jurisdictional reach of this legislation is national, applying across all states and territories of Australia, and it extends to any entities or individuals involved in the pharmaceutical supply chain for the specified brands. The determination does not explicitly state exclusions, but it is understood that it applies only to the listed pharmaceutical brands and not to other medical products or services. This determination is made under the authority of subsection 99ADHC(2) of the National Health Act 1953 and can be further detailed or extended through subordinate instruments as necessary.
Key Provisions
This instrument, titled the National Health (Floor Price for Certain Brands of Pharmaceutical Items) Amendment Determination (No. 3) 2026, amends the National Health (Floor Price for Certain Brands of Pharmaceutical Items) Determination 2023, effective from 1 November 2026 and 1 December 2026. Section 1 outlines the name of the instrument and its citation, while Section 2 details the commencement dates for various provisions. The instrument is made under the National Health Act 1953, as stated in Section 3, and the amendments are specified in the Schedules, particularly Schedule 1 for brands effective from 1 November 2026 and Schedule 2 for brands effective from 1 December 2026, as per Section 4.
The obligations imposed by this Determination include the requirement for designated pharmaceutical brands to adhere to a floor price as stipulated by the National Health (Floor Price for Certain Brands of Pharmaceutical Items) Determination 2023, with modifications effective from the dates specified. Manufacturers, distributors, and sellers of these pharmaceutical brands must ensure compliance with the new pricing structures outlined in the amended determinations. Additionally, the Determination mandates that any relevant updates or amendments be reflected in the pricing and supply of these pharmaceutical items, ensuring that the changes are implemented from the effective dates provided.
For breaches of the requirements set forth by this Determination, there may be civil or criminal consequences, although specific penalties are not detailed within the text of this Determination. However, it is reasonable to infer that penalties for non-compliance could include fines or other legal actions as stipulated under the National Health Act 1953, or any related regulations. The exact nature and extent of these penalties would be governed by the relevant statutory provisions and the specific circumstances of any breach.