The Medicines (Increasing the Period of Supply) Amendment Regulations 2025 enables authorised prescribers to write a prescription for up to 12 months of medicine. This applies to all prescriptions, whether generated electronically, handwritten, or communicated orally.
While the option is now available, longer periods of supply will not be clinically appropriate for all patients, conditions, or medicines. Prescribers remain responsible for determining the total quantity and period of supply, and there are no regulatory limits on age, medical conditions, or medicine classes that automatically qualify or exclude a patient.
Who can prescribe
Only authorised prescribers under the Medicines Act 1981 can issue 12-month prescriptions. This includes medical practitioners, nurse practitioners, registered nurse prescribers, pharmacist prescribers, dentists, midwives, optometrists, dietician prescribers, and podiatrist prescribers.
Each must work within their professional scope and standards. For example, midwives may prescribe longer periods of supply only for pregnancy related medicines and only while the patient remains under their care.
Where a medicine is no longer clinically appropriate, prescribers are encouraged to notify the pharmacy to stop or cancel any remaining repeats.
What medicines
All prescription medicines except controlled drugs are eligible for up to 12-months’ supply. Prescribers may choose different periods of supply for different medicines for the same patient, applying clinical judgement and considering adherence.
Pharmacists can continue to synchronise medicines where appropriate, particularly for patients with adherence challenges or those enrolled in the Long-term Conditions service.
Consider the patient’s medicine regimen, repeat timing, and any clinical monitoring requirements, to help reduce missed doses, simplify medicine management, and provide opportunities for regular adherence support. Existing controlled drug regulations remain unchanged.
Financial impacts
The introduction of 12-month prescriptions will not negatively affect community pharmacy funding. Pharmacies will continue to be funded as if these prescriptions were dispensed under the three-month model, ensuring no financial disadvantage.
Additional dispensing activity arising from the change will not be funded from existing community pharmacy streams. A compulsory ICPSA variation covering technical changes has already been issued, with a second variation to follow once the final payment mechanism is confirmed.
Promotion
Community pharmacies play a key role in helping the public understand the changes. Staff are encouraged to use a range of communication channels, including social media, posters, written information, email or text campaigns, and face-to-face conversations.
Key patient messages include:
- Prescribers will determine whether a longer prescription is clinically safe and appropriate
- Pharmacists can supply a maximum of three monthsat a time
- Repeat supplies must be collected from thesame pharmacy.
For support
To support members and ensure consistent, safe application of the new regulations and funding rules, the PGNZ has developed practical guidance on 12-month prescriptions, available at www.pgnz.org.nz/practice-guides-and-resources.
This resource will continue to be updated as implementation issues are clarified.
