Kiwis to receive 12-month prescriptions for some medicines from February 2026

From 1 February 2026, New Zealanders will be able to receive 12-month prescriptions for their medicines, delivering savings and greater convenience for people on long-term treatments, Health Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Health Minister David Seymour say.

Brown said the Government was focused on reducing costs and making it simpler and more convenient for patients to access the medicines they need.

“This common-sense change, announced in Budget 2025, will allow people with long-term, stable conditions to receive prescriptions of up to 12 months from their prescriber. It gives patients greater certainty and frees up GPs’ time by reducing the number of appointments needed to renew routine prescriptions,” he said.

Patients will continue to collect their repeats from the pharmacy as usual but will no longer need to return to their doctor each time for a new script. The move could save patients up to $105 per year in reduced GP fees.

Brown said the change would make a real difference for people managing long-term conditions such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy and high blood pressure.

“It will also free up valuable time for GPs, pharmacists and other health professionals to focus on patients with more complex needs.”

Health New Zealand is working with the primary care and community pharmacy sectors to support implementation.

The Government is also moving to strengthen the pharmacy workforce by removing ownership restrictions that currently prevent pharmacists from becoming prescribers.

“Current legislation prevents any prescriber from owning or holding an interest in a pharmacy without an exemption. This is an unnecessary barrier for pharmacists who want to take on prescribing responsibilities,” Brown said.

The Medicines Amendment Bill, passed this week, will remove the restriction so pharmacists can become prescribers while continuing to invest in or own pharmacies.

Around 100 pharmacist prescribers currently work in GP clinics, hospices and hospitals, but none in community pharmacies due to these limits.

Seymour said the reforms were about cutting red tape so New Zealanders could get timely access to the medicines they need.

“Extending prescription lengths and removing ownership barriers for pharmacists makes life easier for patients. It’s a common-sense approach that makes getting healthcare easier and more affordable,” he said.

“When people can access their medicines easily, they stay healthier for longer. This means they can live more fulfilling lives. It also reduces pressure on other parts of the health system.”

Dispensing will still be at three-month intervals

A Ministry of Health spokesperson said the change would make it easier for patients with stable, long-term conditions to continue accessing the medicines they need without the inconvenience or cost of frequent renewals.

“Currently prescriptions for most medicines are limited to a maximum duration of three months, which means people who have stable, long-term conditions need to regularly see their prescriber to continue accessing necessary medicines,” the spokesperson said.

“This change will enable prescribers to, where appropriate, give patients continued access to necessary medicine, reducing the cost and inconvenience of continued appointments to renew prescriptions.

“Prescribers will be responsible for determining the clinically appropriate prescription length and can prescribe for shorter or longer periods as needed.”

The ministry said the reform was expected to mostly affect people on long-term medicines such as asthma inhalers, diabetes medicines and blood pressure tablets.

“The increased prescribing limit will also apply to oral contraceptives, which currently have a six-month prescribing limit. However, it won’t apply to controlled drugs,” the spokesperson said.

Medicines will continue to be dispensed in maximum three-month intervals from pharmacies.

How it will work:

• Prescribers will decide the clinically appropriate prescription length and quantity for each patient; 12 months is a maximum, not a requirement.
• Pharmacies may still only dispense up to three months’ supply at a time (six months for oral contraceptives).
• Some medicines remain limited to one-month supply under Pharmac rules.
• Patients will pay the $5 co-payment only once when collecting their first three-month supply; no further co-payments apply to repeats.
• The $5 fee applies to prescriptions from publicly funded health services. Prescriptions from private providers may cost up to $15.