Pharmacists Call For Close Monitoring Of 12-Month Prescriptions

Independent pharmacists are calling for close monitoring of patient care as 12-month prescriptions have come into force from 1 February, warning that the change increases reliance on informal, largely unfunded safety checks within community pharmacies.

They acknowledge the move will benefit many patients, particularly those who struggle to access GP appointments or afford repeat visits. Pharmacists also welcome the decision to charge prescription co-payments only once for 12-month prescriptions.

However, pharmacists say the policy has been introduced without clear, independent monitoring of how patient outcomes, medicine use and patient safety will be tracked.

“Community pharmacies are a key part of New Zealand’s health infrastructure,” says Wainuiomata pharmacist and Independent Community Pharmacy Group spokesperson Clive Cannons. “Pharmacists see patients regularly, often every three months, and those informal check-ins play a critical role in picking up issues early.”

“Side effects, confusion about medicines, changes in health or signs that something isn’t quite right are often identified during those everyday conversations. That kind of early intervention reduces pressure on GPs, emergency departments and hospitals.”

Under the new system, patients will continue to collect medicines at regular intervals, but pharmacists say there was a missed opportunity to formally recognise and resource the safety role pharmacies already play.

Te Awamutu pharmacist and independent pharmacy owner Gemma Perry says pharmacies are already doing a significant amount of unfunded work to keep patients safe.

“Pharmacists will still be seeing patients just as often, which is a really good thing,” says Perry. “But many of the checks and balances people assume happen automatically are not funded. They rely on professional goodwill.”

“It’s important we don’t pretend pharmacy can simply absorb more responsibility without support. Pharmacists will continue working closely with GPs, but this is a complex change and it will take time for patients, doctors and pharmacies to navigate.”

The change also comes at a time when community pharmacies are under increasing pressure. Around 100 community pharmacies have closed nationally since 2020, with losses greatest in smaller towns and higher-need communities.

“This isn’t about opposing change,” says Cannons. “It’s about making sure policies are implemented with eyes wide open to how care actually happens on the ground.”

Pharmacists are calling for clear, transparent monitoring of how 12-month prescribing affects patient experience, medicine use, access to care and pressure on the wider health system now the policy is in place.

“By the time problems show up in hospital data, it’s often too late,” says Cannons. “Good monitoring helps catch issues early, just like pharmacists do every day.”

About the Independent Community Pharmacy Group (ICPG)

The Independent Community Pharmacy Group represents more than 100 independently owned community pharmacies across New Zealand. Its members provide frontline, relationship-based healthcare in urban, rural and high-needs communities, often serving as the most accessible point of contact in the health system.

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