From 1 February 2026, changes to the New Zealand health system mean that the maximum length of a prescription we can provide can increase from 3 months to up to 12 months for some medicines.
What this means for patients
A 12‑month prescription allows your GP, nurse practitioner or nurse prescriber to prescribe certain long‑term medicines for up to one year at a time. However, you may still need regular check‑ups in that 12 months, as ongoing reviews are important to make sure your treatment remains safe and effective.
Who may be eligible
You may be considered for a 6–12 month prescription if:
- You have a long‑term health condition
- Your condition is stable (symptoms are well controlled)
- Your treatment has been working well without recent changes
Your healthcare provider will assess whether this is safe and appropriate for you.
When a 12‑month prescription will not be issued
You will not be given a 12‑month prescription if:
- Your condition is not stable or your treatment may need adjustment
- Your medicine or dose has changed within the past 6 months
- The medicine requires regular monitoring within 12 months (e.g. blood tests or blood pressure checks)
- The medicine is taken “only as needed”
- The medicine is a controlled drug including:
– opioids and strong pain relief medicines (e.g. tramadol, morphine)
– some ADHD medicines (e.g. methylphenidate)
Your GP, nurse practitioner or nurse prescriber will make the final decision about whether a 12‑month prescription is appropriate for you.
Collecting Your Medicine from the Pharmacy
Even if you receive a 12‑month prescription, you will not be able to collect 12 months of medicine at once.
Pharmacies will continue to dispense a maximum of 3 months’ supply at a time, so you will need to collect your medicine every three months as usual.
Special Authorities
Some medicines require a Special Authority for funding:
- Some Special Authorities are valid for life
- Others are valid for a limited time only
If your Special Authority expires, your prescriber will need to renew it.
With a 12‑month prescription, it is possible that your Special Authority may expire before the prescription does. If this happens, you will need to have the Special Authority renewed before you can receive further funded repeats.
