“The average patient who needs to renew their prescriptions four times annually could save up to $105 per year on GP fees,” a Ministry of Health spokeswoman claimed.
“The Government has made changes to allow patients to receive up to 12 months of medicines on a single prescription, if their GP or other prescriber decides it’s appropriate.
“This will make a real difference for people managing well-controlled, long-term conditions such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, high blood pressure and menopause.”
The spokeswoman said the change would also reduce administration for GPs and nurses.
Not all patients will be eligible for the longer prescriptions, and not all medications can be prescribed for 12 months.
Doctors will assess whether it is appropriate for each patient.
The Doctors Napier, in an email to patients, said it was “great news”.
“This means that getting your regular medicines will be easier, cheaper and less stressful, while also cutting down on unnecessary GP visits,” the email read.
“Your eligibility and the actual duration of the script will depend on your individual condition, medication and safety considerations.
“Your doctor will decide if it’s safe and suitable to provide you with a 12-month script.
“Additionally, your doctor can only provide you with a 12-month prescription during a face-to-face appointment and will require an annual review.”
The email noted that if patients were currently on multiple medications, or if check-ups were more regularly required, it was unlikely that a 12-month prescription would be suitable.
The Doctors Napier has been contacted for further comment, about how the changes could impact patients and doctors.
Napier Urgent Care, on Wellesley Rd, confirmed the changes won’t impact them, as they are an urgent care practice and don’t offer regular GP check-ups.
As such, it won’t issue 12-month prescriptions.
Patients will make just one $5 co-payment for their 12-month prescription, but will need to collect three months’ worth of medication at a time from their pharmacy.
That is because pharmacists can only supply a maximum of three months of medicine at any one time.
Some pharmacists have raised concerns about the rule change.
A Te Awamutu pharmacist told RNZ that it will likely add a burden to stretched pharmacists, having to explain to patients what to expect with 12-month scripts and the fact that it wasn’t for everyone, and that their doctor needs to decide that.
