News
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From 1 February 2026, changes to prescribing rules mean that some patients may be eligible to receive prescriptions for up to 12 months (currently we can only do prescriptions for 3 months).
Not all patients will be eligible. Every doctor and every medical centre in New Zealand will apply these changes differently.
Who might qualify for a 12-month prescription?
You may be eligible if:
Your health condition is stable
Your dose and medication haven’t changed for at least six months
Your medicine does not require frequent monitoring (e.g., blood tests or blood pressure checks)
The medication is approved for 12-month prescribing
You are happy to attend an annual in-person review
Your clinician will make the final decision to ensure your care remains safe, appropriate, and personalised.
To be considered for a 6- or 12-month prescription, you must book an appointment with your own GP to discuss whether this option is suitable for you.
Please note:
Attending this appointment does not guarantee that you will qualify for a longer prescription.
There will be a charge for this consultation, regardless of whether you qualify.
Your clinician will always decide what is safest for your health.
For many patients, 3- or 6-month prescriptions will remain the most appropriate option
This appointment is solely to discuss prescription length changes. If you have other health concerns or multiple issues to discuss, you will need to book a separate appointment
Important things to know:
Only a limited number of medications are approved for 12-month prescribing.
Some medicines cannot be prescribed for 12 months, including:
Controlled medications (opioids, benzodiazepines, sleeping tablets, ADHD medications)
“As-needed” medicines (e.g., pain relief, laxatives)
Medicines requiring frequent monitoring
Conditions that are not stable or have had recent changes
The more medications you take, the more monitoring is usually required, which may make you ineligible for 12 months prescribing.
An in-person review is required before any change can be made.
Until this review occurs, your prescriptions will continue on 3-monthly prescribing.
Pharmacies can still only provide you with up to 3 months of medication at a time (with repeats), even if a longer prescription is issued. You cannot collect all 12 months at once.
Are you eligible for 12-month prescribing? You may be considered if:
• Your health condition is stable.
• You do not require frequent monitoring (such as regular blood tests or blood pressure checks).
• Your medication is approved for 12-month prescribing.
• You agree to: Attend a yearly in-person review, complete required blood tests every 6 or 12 months, as advised.If these requirements are not met, 12-month prescribing will stop, and your prescriptions will return to 3 monthly intervals.