Kia Ora patients
12-month prescriptions – How will this affect you?
From 1 February 2026, the New Zealand Government is extending the maximum prescription length from 3 months to 12 months. People with stable, long-term health conditions may be able to have prescriptions issued for up to 12 months.
Your safety comes first
- Your prescriber will talk with you about your health before deciding on how long your prescription will be issued for. This can be any amount of time up to 12-months.
- Not all medications are eligible; 12 month prescriptions are not for new medicines, controlled drugs, or conditions requiring close monitoring. Other medications are at the GP’s discretion.
You will still collect your medicines from pharmacy at the same intervals
- All pharmacies will be required, by law, to only supply a maximum of up to 3 months worth of your medicines at any one time, even if your prescription covers a longer period.
- Most funded medicines will be dispensed at three monthly intervals.
- Medicines that are subject to monthly supply requirements or other special rules will continue to follow those regulations. For example, controlled drugs, strong pain relievers, medicines for anxiety and sleep.
- All repeats must be collected from the same pharmacy. Repeats cannot be transferred between pharmacies.
- You will continue to pay a prescription co-payment ($5) per prescription item when you collect the first supply of each of your prescription medicines.
Find out more at info.health.nz/Prescriptions
Roslyn Health Centre
03 4776471