Prescription medicines dating back three months are piling up at Northland pharmacies as vulnerable families turn to friends and health care providers, seeking help to pay for the drugs.
A Whangarei-based health leader said an increase in standard charges for prescribed medicines from $3 to $5 since January 1 had resulted in a large number of people not being able to pay for even essential medication.
The Government raised the charges, the first price hike in 20 years. Patients can apply for a prescription-fee exemption card but only after they have paid for 20 items in a 12-month period. Prescriptions for children under 6 are free.
Manaia Health PHO chief executive Chris Farrelly said the impact of an additional $2 charge per medicine had been huge, especially on those who had multiple prescriptions.
"As a PHO, we've seen a significant increase in emergency and urgent requirements, and it's one of those things that require us to look carefully at the impact of an increase in prescription charges," he said.