MS Contin (Morphine)

morphine sulfate pentahydrate 100 mg modified release tablet, 28 · ORAL · PBS code 1656E

STREAMLINED

What it costs

AU$40.29 PBS-determined price per 28 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: 2011-05-01.
• Repeats: 0.
• 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

Chronic severe pain

Initial PBS treatment after 1 June 2020 where patient has been treated with opioids for less than 12 months

The condition must require daily, continuous, long term opioid treatment; AND

Patient must have cancer pain; or

Patient must have had or would have inadequate pain management with maximum tolerated doses of non-opioid or other opioid analgesics; or

Patient must be unable to use non-opioid or other opioid analgesics due to contraindications or intolerance.

Listing of Pharmaceutical Benefits (NHL) - Schedule 4 part 2

Authorities for increased maximum quantities and/or repeats under this restriction must only be considered for chronic severe disabling pain where the total duration of non-PBS and PBS opioid analgesic treatment is less than 12 months.

Authority requests extending treatment duration up to 1 month may be requested through the Online PBS Authorities system or by calling Services Australia.

Authority requests extending treatment duration beyond 1 month may be requested through the Online PBS Authorities system or in writing and must not provide a treatment duration exceeding 3 months (quantity sufficient for up to 1 month treatment and sufficient repeats).

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

Chronic severe pain

Initial PBS treatment after 1 June 2020 where patient has been treated with opioids for more than 12 months

The condition must require daily, continuous, long term opioid treatment; AND

Patient must have cancer pain; or

Patient must have had or would have inadequate pain management with maximum tolerated doses of non-opioid or other opioid analgesics; or

Patient must be unable to use non-opioid or other opioid analgesics due to contraindications or intolerance.

Palliative care nurses may conduct annual review under this item for the treatment of palliative care patients only.

Listing of Pharmaceutical Benefits (NHL) - Schedule 4 part 2

Authorities for increased maximum quantities and/or repeats must only be considered for chronic severe disabling pain where the total duration of non-PBS and PBS opioid analgesic treatment:

(i) exceeds 12 months and the palliative care patient is unable to have annual pain management review due to their clinical condition; or

(ii) exceeds 12 months and the patient's clinical need for continuing opioid treatment has been confirmed through consultation with the patient by another medical practitioner or a palliative care nurse practitioner in the past 12 months; or

(iii) has exceeded 12 months prior to 1 June 2020 and the patient's clinical need for continuing opioid treatment has not been confirmed through consultation with the patient by another medical practitioner or a palliative care nurse practitioner in the past 12 months, but is planned in the next 3 months.

Authority requests extending treatment duration up to 1 month may be requested through the Online PBS Authorities system or by calling Services Australia.

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

Chronic severe pain

Continuing PBS treatment after 1 June 2020

Patient must have previously received PBS-subsidised treatment with this form of this drug for this condition after 1 June 2020.

Palliative care nurses may conduct annual review under this item for the treatment of palliative care patients only.

Listing of Pharmaceutical Benefits (NHL) - Schedule 4 part 2

Authorities for increased maximum quantities and/or repeats must only be considered for chronic severe disabling pain where the patient has received initial authority approval and the total duration of non-PBS and PBS opioid analgesic treatment:

(i) is less than 12 months; or

(ii) exceeds 12 months and the palliative care patient is unable to have annual pain management review due to their clinical condition; or

(iii) exceeds 12 months and the patient's clinical need for continuing opioid treatment has been confirmed through consultation with the patient by another medical practitioner or a palliative care nurse practitioner in the past 12 months; or

(iv) has exceeded 12 months prior to 1 June 2020 and the patient's pain management and clinical need for continuing opioid treatment has not been confirmed through consultation with the patient by another medical practitioner or a palliative care nurse practitioner in the past 12 months, but is planned in the next 3 months.

Authority requests extending treatment duration up to 1 month may be requested through the Online PBS Authorities system or by calling Services Australia.

Sponsor: Mundipharma Pty Limited ABN 87 081 322 509

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.