By Simeon Brown, Member of Parliament for Pakuranga
On February 1, modifications got here into impact that imply New Zealanders can obtain prescriptions for as much as 12 months, saving them cash and simplifying entry to medicines.
This can be a commonsense change that’ll make an actual distinction to sufferers who’ve steady, long-term situations like bronchial asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, and hypertension.
If their GP or different prescriber decides it’s applicable and protected to offer 12-month prescriptions, these sufferers gained’t should get a brand new prescription each three months from their GP.
They’ll go to their normal pharmacy to gather the repeats and solely pay a single prescription cost of $5 after they acquire their first provide.
Sufferers gained’t must pay a cost for the remaining repeats over the 12-month interval. This can be a win-win for each sufferers and well being professionals.
It means decrease prices, and higher entry to medicines for New Zealanders with long-term, steady medical situations.
It additionally reduces the time GPs and different prescribers must spend renewing routine prescriptions, making it simpler for different sufferers to get an appointment after they want one.
That is simply one of many sensible, patient-focused modifications the Authorities has made to present New Zealanders higher entry to healthcare, nearer to dwelling.
We’ve additionally elevated prescribing rights for well being professionals like nurse practitioners, enabling them to prescribe a wider vary of medicines inside their areas of apply.
And extra New Zealanders with ADHD can have quicker entry to help because of modifications to who can assess, diagnose, and begin ADHD therapy.
Medsafe and Pharmac have made modifications that can permit Specialist GPs and nurse practitioners to diagnose ADHD and begin therapy for adults aged 18 and over.
Nurse practitioners engaged on paediatric or baby and adolescent psychological well being groups can even diagnose and begin therapy for kids and teenagers below 18.
Beforehand, GPs and nurse practitioners may solely prescribe ADHD medicines to sufferers with a written suggestion from a paediatrician or psychiatrist, or after somebody had already been recognized and acquired their first prescription.
Collectively, these modifications imply New Zealanders can have faster, simpler, and extra reasonably priced entry to the care and medicines they depend on.
