Pharmacists with applications in the pipeline have a short window to act before the PBS Approved Suppliers team shuts for the year. The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing will be closed from 3 pm on Thursday 24 December 2026 to Friday 1 January 2027 inclusive.
What stays open during the PBS Approved Suppliers closure
The PBS Approved Suppliers Portal will still accept applications and notifications while the Department is closed. No assessments will be carried out during that time, so anything lodged over the break will not be looked at until the Department is back.
The 23 December cut-off for approvals
Applicants who have been issued with an administration number and want approval before the closure must provide any outstanding information to the PBS Approved Suppliers team and request approval no later than 4 pm Canberra time on Wednesday 23 December 2026.
New pharmacies and relocations: 12 November is the date to hit
Applications for a new pharmacy, or to relocate an existing one, must be considered by the Australian Community Pharmacy Authority. Its last meeting for 2026 is scheduled for 11 December 2026, and applications for that meeting must be lodged by 12 November 2026, just under three weeks away.
The Department has also confirmed there is no Authority meeting scheduled for January 2027, to allow for the closure period and the availability of staff and Authority members. That means there is no January sitting for anything that misses the December meeting.
Related: Albanese reveals $25 cap on PBS scripts, vows to defend it from US big pharma
General information only, not legal advice. Check the official source before acting.
