Hospital use of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme

To the Editor,
It is an opportune time to address issues associated with the use of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) in hospitals. Many hospitals utilising the PBS, experience problems ensuring prescribers write appropriate scripts. To resolve these problems a model was developed that allows dispensing and claiming of payment for PBS drugs based on orders written on drug charts without the need for separate scripts. In addition to resolving prescription issues, the model improves efficiency in the drug supply process and increases the opportunity for pharmacists to provide clinical services on wards.