23 Oct 2026
1 day ago
89 views
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has today welcomed Pharmac’s decision to extend the 12-month transitional access funding limit for Pertuzumab with trastuzumab (Phesgo) for people receiving treatment for certain types of breast cancer in private clinics. “In the past, when Pharmac funded a new cancer treatment, people already paying for that treatment privately are forced to make a very difficult choice: spend their savings to continue private treatment undisrupted, or transfer to a public hospital. The latter can be detrimental to their recovery,” Mr Seymour says.
02 Oct 2026
3 weeks ago
337 views
Pharmac and Health New Zealand are expanding the range of funded medicines community pharmacies can provide without a prescription, including treatments for children’s skin conditions, oral thrush, vaginal thrush, and selected oral contraceptives. This initiative aims to improve timely access to healthcare, especially for rural and remote communities, reduce pressure on the health system, and lower primary care costs for families. Ministers David Seymour and Simeon Brown emphasize that utilizing pharmacists’ skills and pharmacies’ accessibility supports the government’s commitment to delivering quality healthcare close to home.
07 Sep 2026
1 month ago
437 views
Regulation Minister David Seymour announced the completion of the Ministry for Regulation’s Product Labelling Review, aiming to ease export and import challenges by updating digital labelling standards and aligning over-the-counter (OTC) medicine labels with Australia. The government will develop a national digital labelling standard to reduce costs and support export growth, while changes to OTC medicine labelling will increase product availability and attract international companies. These reforms are expected to generate significant economic benefits by cutting red tape, lowering compliance costs, and unlocking New Zealand’s economic potential.
05 Aug 2026
2 months ago
595 views
Associate Health Minister David Seymour welcomes Pharmac’s decision to expand access to type 2 diabetes medicines based on clinical need, benefiting over 30,000 patients regardless of ethnicity. From 1 September, medicines like empagliflozin and liraglutide will be funded for anyone with high blood sugar despite other treatments, removing previous restrictions related to cardiovascular or renal conditions. This change, supported by community feedback and a new supplier agreement, aims to improve health outcomes, reduce complications, and optimize health budget efficiency.
26 Jun 2026
4 months ago
936 views
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has outlined clear expectations for Pharmac to deliver medicines and medical technology efficiently within its fixed budget, emphasizing the need for continued patient-focused processes, improved transparency, and enhanced collaboration with stakeholders. Pharmac has made significant progress by changing its culture, strengthening consumer and supplier partnerships, and improving access to medicines, supported by the Government’s largest-ever budget allocation of $7.2 billion over four years. Despite achievements, including funding decisions benefiting over 680,000 patients, Seymour stresses that ongoing efforts are needed to listen to patients and advance Pharmac’s long-term improvement programme.
09 Jun 2026
4 months ago
895 views
Associate Health Minister David Seymour supports Pharmac’s new responsibility to fund ambulance medicines from July 1, aiming to provide consistent access to emergency medicines nationwide while achieving cost savings. Following public consultation, Pharmac added seven commonly used ambulance medicines to the funded list to better reflect practical needs and improve patient outcomes. This change integrates ambulance medicines management with hospital medicines, enhancing system efficiency, value for taxpayers, and seamless care transitions between ambulance and hospital services.
06 Jun 2026
4 months ago
1731 views
Paramedics in New Zealand will be authorized to prescribe certain medicines, enabling more community-based care and reducing pressure on emergency departments, especially benefiting rural and remote areas. This change reflects the evolving role of paramedics beyond emergency response, supported by new training programs and regulatory adjustments under the Medicines Act 1981. The Ministry of Health is consulting on the specific medicines paramedics may prescribe and developing the necessary regulations and scope of practice to implement this policy.
14 May 2026
5 months ago
1179 views
The Government is introducing the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines (ACVM) Amendment Bill to streamline access to new agricultural chemicals and veterinary medicines by reducing regulatory complexity and focusing on real risks. The Bill enables reliance on trusted overseas assessments, expedites approval for low-risk products, and works alongside the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Amendment Bill to create a more adaptive, internationally aligned regulatory framework. These changes aim to enhance safety, trade competitiveness, transparency, and timely decision-making, with the Bill expected to complete parliamentary readings by late 2026.
12 May 2026
5 months ago
1020 views
International Nurses Day highlights the vital role nurses play across New Zealand’s healthcare system, providing skilled, compassionate care in diverse settings from hospitals to rural communities. The government is investing in expanding the nursing workforce through recruitment incentives and advanced training, including support for nurse practitioners who have become essential in delivering advanced clinical care over the past 25 years. Recent legislative changes empower nurse practitioners with expanded prescribing and diagnostic authority, reflecting their integral role in modern, patient-centered healthcare.
12 Mar 2026
7 months ago
1196 views
The Government plans to transfer funding responsibility for ambulance medicines from Health New Zealand and ACC to Pharmac to improve procurement efficiency, ensure nationwide access to consistent emergency medicines, and save costs. This change will create a single nationally consistent medicine list for ambulance services, enhancing continuity of care between ambulance providers and hospitals while leveraging Pharmac’s expertise and buying power. Public consultation on the proposal is open from March 12 to April 2, 2024, with implementation targeted for July 1, 2026.
04 Dec 2025
10 months ago
1310 views
Registered nurse prescribers in New Zealand can now prescribe nearly double the number of medicines, enhancing timely and local access to treatment for common and long-term conditions. This expansion, alongside increased prescribing rights for pharmacists and other health professionals, reflects their advanced training and aims to improve integrated care and reduce healthcare system pressure. Additionally, from February 2026, some patients on stable long-term medications will be able to receive prescriptions for up to 12 months, lowering costs and simplifying medication management.
19 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1096 views
The Cabinet has agreed to introduce new safeguards on prescribing gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues, restricting their use for new patients with gender dysphoria or incongruence until further clinical trial results are available, while maintaining access for existing patients and those with other medical conditions. This precautionary approach follows a lack of high-quality evidence on the benefits and risks of these treatments for gender dysphoria and aligns New Zealand’s regulations with those of the UK and other countries. The government emphasizes ensuring treatments are safe, evidence-based, and accessible through continued support and centralized youth gender services.
17 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1213 views
New Zealand’s Medicines Amendment Bill now allows nurse practitioners to prescribe a wider range of medicines, improving patient access and continuity of care. This change removes previous restrictions, enabling nurse practitioners to provide timely treatment directly within their scope of practice, especially benefiting communities with limited doctor access. Health Minister Simeon Brown emphasizes that this update recognizes nurse practitioners' advanced skills and enhances healthcare efficiency and outcomes.
12 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1216 views
Starting from February 1, 2026, New Zealanders will have the option to receive 12-month prescriptions for their medications, aiming to save costs and enhance convenience for those on long-term treatments. This change, introduced in Budget 2025, allows stable patients to obtain longer prescriptions, reducing the need for frequent doctor visits and potentially saving up to $105 annually in GP fees. Additionally, the government is removing ownership restrictions for pharmacists to become prescribers, enabling more accessible care and innovation in the healthcare system.
12 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1232 views
Associate Health Minister David Seymour and Health Minister Simeon Brown welcome Pharmac's decision to fund access to five treatments, including for breast and lung cancer, starting from December 1, 2025. Pharmac's decisions include funding new subcutaneous options for existing IV medicines, two new medicines, and ongoing access to certain treatments. The move aims to make patients' lives easier, reduce strain on the health system, and provide better and faster access to cancer care in New Zealand, aligning with the government's focus on improving cancer management and ensuring better access to cancer medicines.