Growth Hormone deficiency - paediatric patients

The PBS subsidises somapacitan, somatrogon and somatropin for paediatric patients with severe growth hormone deficiency.

Patient eligibility

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) subsidises treatment with somapacitan, somatrogon and somatropin under the National Health Act 1953, section 100 for paediatric patients with severe growth hormone deficiency.

Patients must be eligible for the PBS and meet the relevant restriction criteria.

The Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits on the PBS website outlines the restrictions for prescribing these medicines.

Section 100 arrangements

Somapacitan, somatrogon and somatropin

These items are PBS-subsidised under Section 100 Growth Hormone Program and can be dispensed by a:

  • community pharmacy
  • participating PBS reform public hospital pharmacy
  • private hospital pharmacy
  • dispensing doctor.

Treatment specifics

To be eligible for PBS-subsidised treatment with these medicines, patients must be treated by a:

  • specialist or consultant physician in paediatric endocrinology
  • specialist or consultant physician in general paediatrics in consultation with a nominated specialist or consultant physician in paediatric endocrinology
  • medical practitioner in consultation with a nominated specialist or consultant physician in paediatric endocrinology or general paediatrics.

You can write prescriptions for brand specific somatropin. This must be written on the prescription and include the form and strength. For computer generated prescriptions, you’ll need to put the active ingredient first, followed by the brand name, form and strength.

The same brand, including the form and strength, must be used for both the original and repeats. If you need to change brands during a patient’s treatment, you must apply for a new authority approval from Services Australia.

You do not need to specify the brand of somapacitan or somatrogon.

Authority applications

You can get immediate PBS authority assessment results for Growth Hormone Authority requests. You can submit your authority application through the Online PBS Authorities system.

You can access the Online PBS Authorities system through:

Applying for initial treatment

Applications for initial authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised somapacitan, somatrogon or somatropin to treat severe growth hormone deficiency can be made in:

All written applications must include:

Applying for continuing, change or recommencement of treatment

Applications to continue, change or recommence authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised somapacitan, somatrogon or somatropin to treat severe growth hormone deficiency can be made in:

All written applications must include:

Applying for initial grandfather treatment

Applications for initial grandfather authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised somapacitan or somatrogon to treat short stature with slow growth (SSSG) or short stature associated with biochemical growth hormone deficiency (BGHD) can be made in:

All written applications must include:

Calculating the amount of drug to prescribe

Somatrogon

To calculate the appropriate amount of drug to prescribe, use the ‘Somatrogon prescribed maximum quantity by weight’ chart on the PBS website.

Somatropin

To calculate your patient’s correct quantity and weekly dose, use the ‘Paediatric Dose and Cartridge Quantity Calculator for Somatropin only’ on the PBS website.

More information

Call the PBS Complex Drugs Programs enquiry line for more information.

Page last updated: 1 July 2026.
QC 33166