Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) MCP AI Enabled API Server

What is Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) MCP AI Enabled API Server?

A standalone Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI models to access the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) API, which contains information about medicines, pricing, and availability in Australia. It is built for the public PBS API but can be adapted to the private API if developer access has been granted.

How to use Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) MCP AI Enabled API Server?

Clone the repository, install dependencies with npm install, and build with npm run build. Run the server in stdio mode (npm start), HTTP/SSE mode (npm run start:http), or as a command-line tool (npm run cli -- <command>). Configure an MCP client (e.g., Claude Desktop) by providing the path to the built server and your PBS API subscription key in the client’s mcpServers configuration.

Key features of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) MCP AI Enabled API Server

• Provides tools for querying PBS API endpoints.
• Supports both stdio and HTTP/SSE transport layers.
• Comprehensive error handling for rate limits and authentication.
• Processes natural language prompts about medication information.
• Returns structured pharmaceutical data for LLM use.
• Can be used as a standalone CLI tool.

Use cases of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) MCP AI Enabled API Server

• An AI assistant retrieves current PBS medicine listings and pricing.
• A health chatbot answers queries about prescribers and PBS codes.
• A medical research tool looks up scheduled medications and restrictions.
• An automated workflow checks drug availability and copayment fees.
• A developer prototypes integration with PBS data using natural language prompts.

FAQ from Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) MCP AI Enabled API Server

What is the PBS API rate limit?

The PBS Public API is rate-limited to one request per 20 seconds. This limit is shared among all users of the public API.

Do I need a subscription key to use this server?

Yes. The tool uses a subscription key for accessing the PBS API. You can obtain a key by registering on the PBS Data API Portal at https://data-api-portal.health.gov.au/ and subscribing to the PBS Public API v3 product.

What data is available through the public PBS API?

Only the current schedule and those published in the past 12 months are available via the Public API. Some endpoints require specific parameters, and the API structure may change over time.

Can I use this server with private API access?

Yes. The project is built for the public API but can easily be adapted to the private API if you have been granted developer access.

What transport modes does the server support?

The server supports both stdio and HTTP/SSE transport layers. It can run as a standard MCP server in stdio mode or as an HTTP server with Server-Sent Events for real-time tool events.