Articles tagged with Pharmacy

New Zealanders to Benefit from 12-Month Prescriptions and Pharmacist Ownership Changes for Improved Access to Medicines

2 hours ago | 25 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.

Tags: New Zealanders Health Minister Simeon Brown Associate Health Minister David Seymour prescriptions medicines GP fees pharmacy pharmacist prescribers Medicines Amendment Bill community pharmacies

Government Decisions on Pharmacy Ownership and Medical Advertising in Upcoming Bill

4 weeks ago | 148 views

Cabinet papers reveal upcoming Medical Products Bill changes including the removal of pharmacy ownership restrictions to enhance access to healthcare. The bill will introduce a supervisory pharmacist role and allow advertising of unapproved medicines under certain conditions. Modernizing advertising regulations will provide better access to medical product information while ensuring consumer safety.

Tags: Casey Costello Government decisions Pharmacy ownership Medical Products Bill Advertising of medicines Supervisory pharmacist Patient safety Pharmacy standards Consumer safety Medical conferences