The Bendigo Hospital Pharmacy Department maintains a service to hospital inpatients, outpatients and emergency department patients, as well as to specific groups of community patients.

The Pharmacy Department is located on the Bendigo Hospital campus (Ground Floor, Phillips Building)

PBS is available at Bendigo Health

Bendigo Health supplies up to one month's medication for patients once they are discharged, as part of a joint Commonwealth and Victorian Government agreement.

Under the public hospital PBS system, patients leaving hospital or attending a hospital outpatient clinic will be given a PBS prescription for up to one month supply of medication.  This can be dispensed at the hospital's pharmacy department for the same cost as a community pharmacy.

If it is more convenient for the patient and their family they can choose to get their medications from a community pharmacy after being discharged.

There are five very important things people need to know about the PBS when attending Bendigo Health.

1. You will need to show your Medicare Card, or to have had it recorded when you were admitted to hospital to prove you are eligible
   
   
2. Concession Card holders will be required to show a current Pension Card, Healthcare Card, or Repatriation Health Card, and Safety Net Card (if applicable)
   
   
3. You will receive up to one month's supply of your regular medicines on discharge, or when attending an outpatient clinic
   
   
4. Getting your prescription at the hospital pharmacy will cost about the same as if you were to go to your local chemist. Patients will be charged the standard PBS co-payment for each medicine dispensed.  General patients pay up to $29.50 per item toward the cost of each PBS item. Concession card holders pay $4.70 for each item.  The Commonwealth Government will pay the remainder of the medicine costs
   
   
5. You can pay by cash when you receive your medication, or you may choose to pay by credit card or cheque.  The hospital can give you an account for later payment
   

The PBS Safety Net will continue to protect you financially if you or your family have high medicine costs.  Pharmacists can give you a copy of the form on which you record your medicines that will contribute to the PBS Safety Net.

For more information on the PBS and pharmaceutical reforms in Victorian public hospitals you can telephone 9616 8673, or visit their website.