Pharmacies to provide more funded medicines

Pharmacies to provide more funded medicines

Pharmac and Health New Zealand are increasing the number of funded medicines community pharmacies can provide from today, Associate Health Minister David Seymour and Health Minister Simeon Brown say. “It’s important to Kiwis that they have fast access to the medicines they need close to home. Today’s proposal is one more step this Government is taking to achieve that goal,” Mr Seymour says. “Pharmacists are highly trained health professionals. That’s why earlier this year the government expanded services which could be delivered by pharmacies. Now they can provide funded medicines for children and their families for pain and fever management, oral rehydration, conjunctivitis and common conditions such as scabies and head lice. “Often people living in rural and remote areas or communities with higher health needs find it difficult to get timely GP appointments. This is a common-sense approach that makes life easier and more affordable for many families across the country. Now we’re expanding the list of funded medicines they can prescribe to carry out those services. From now, community pharmacies will be able to supply a further expanded range of funded medicines without a prescription under the Extended Pharmacy Services Programme. These medicines are: “This will take pressure off the health system, reduce the cost of primary care for families, and help people get the healthcare they need, when they need it and where it works for them,” Mr Seymour says. Simeon Brown says New Zealanders will welcome being able to get a wider range of common treatments at a lower cost from their local pharmacy. “Pharmacists are incredibly skilled health professionals. Using those skills, and pharmacies’ hours and locations in the community to dispense more subsidised treatments, is a commonsense policy,” Mr Brown says. “The move is consistent with this Government’s commitment to improving New Zealanders’ access to timely, quality healthcare close to home. “The move is consistent with this Government’s commitment to improving New Zealanders’ access to timely, quality healthcare close to home. “Until now, families and individuals have either paid full over-the-counter costs for these treatments or have needed to visit a GP to access the same medicines at a subsidised cost. “For a parent with a child who has conjunctivitis, for example, being able to walk into a pharmacy in town, talk to a pharmacist who can dispense what’s needed on the spot, without a GP appointment, will make things easier. “It will also mean that people working away from home, or on holiday, can simply go to the nearest pharmacy for a wider range of subsidised, common treatments.”