PBS updates

Essential Care Jr (amino acid formula with fat, carbohydrate, vitamins, minerals, trace elements and medium chain triglycerides)

amino acid formula with fat, carbohydrate, vitamins, minerals, trace elements and medium chain triglycerides powder for oral liquid, 400 g · ORAL · PBS code 14825G

AUTHORITY_REQUIRED

What it costs

AU$40.47 PBS-determined price per 8 units

Most patients pay only the standard PBS co-payment, not the full price above — up to AU$25.00 per script (general) or AU$7.70 (concession/Safety Net) in 2026. The figure above is what the PBS pays the pharmacy; the Australian Government subsidises the rest. Always confirm the current amount with your pharmacist.

  • • First listed on the PBS: 2025-05-01.
  • • Repeats: 5.
  • • PBS program: GE.
Eligibility criteria for subsidised access

The following is the government's own wording from the PBS Schedule, shown unchanged.

Listing of Pharmaceutical Benefits (NHL) - Schedule 4 part 1

Combined intolerance to cows' milk protein, soy protein and protein hydrolysate formulae


Continuing treatment


Must be treated by a specialist allergist, clinical immunologist or specialist paediatric gastroenterologist and hepatologist at intervals not greater than 12 months; AND

The condition must not be isolated infant colic or reflux; AND

Patient must be older than 24 months of age.

The name of the specialist and the date of birth of the patient must be included in the authority application.

Listing of Pharmaceutical Benefits (NHL) - Schedule 4 part 1

Severe intestinal malabsorption including short bowel syndrome


Patient must have failed to respond to protein hydrolysate formulae; or

Patient must have been receiving parenteral nutrition.

Listing of Pharmaceutical Benefits (NHL) - Schedule 4 part 1

Eosinophilic oesophagitis


Continuing treatment


Must be treated by a clinical immunologist, suitably qualified allergist or gastroenterologist; AND

Patient must have responded to an initial course of PBS-subsidised treatment; AND

Patient must be 18 years of age or less.

Response to initial treatment is demonstrated by oesophageal biopsy specimens obtained by endoscopy, where the most densely involved oesophageal biopsy had 5 or less eosinophils in any single 400 x high powered field, along with normal antral and duodenal biopsies. The response criteria will not be deemed to have been met if oral steroids were commenced during initial treatment.

Listing of Pharmaceutical Benefits (NHL) - Schedule 4 part 1

Eosinophilic oesophagitis


Initial treatment for up to 3 months


Must be treated by a clinical immunologist, suitably qualified allergist or gastroenterologist; AND

Patient must require an amino acid based formula as a component of a dietary elimination program; AND

Patient must be 18 years of age or less.

Treatment with oral steroids should not be commenced during the period of initial treatment.

Eosinophilic oesophagitis is demonstrated by the following criteria:

(i) Chronic symptoms of reflux that persisted despite a 2-month trial of a proton pump inhibitor or chronic dysphagia; and

(ii) A lack of demonstrable anatomic abnormality with the exception of stricture, which can be attributable to eosinophilic oesophagitis; and

(iii) Eosinophilic infiltration of the oesophagus, demonstrated by oesophageal biopsy specimens obtained by endoscopy and where the most densely involved oesophageal biopsy had 20 or more eosinophils in any single 400 x high powered field, along with normal antral and duodenal biopsies.

The date of birth of the patient must be included in the authority application.

Listing of Pharmaceutical Benefits (NHL) - Schedule 4 part 1

Combined intolerance to cows' milk protein, soy protein and protein hydrolysate formulae


Initial treatment for up to 6 months


Must be treated by a specialist allergist, clinical immunologist or specialist paediatric gastroenterologist and hepatologist; AND

The condition must not be isolated infant colic or reflux; AND

Patient must be older than 24 months of age.

The name of the specialist and the date of birth of the patient must be included in the authority application.

Sponsor: Cortex Health Pty Ltd ABN 17 144 062 386

Not medical advice. Voxsanity republishes public PBS data in plain English. PBS listing status and criteria can change; always confirm current subsidised availability with your doctor or pharmacist.

Source: Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), © Commonwealth of Australia. Data used and redistributed under permission; not modified from its original wording where displayed verbatim.