The Director-General of Health has authorised additional medicines that registered nurse prescribers and pharmacist prescribers will be able to prescribe.
Designated prescribers, such as registered nurse prescribers and pharmacist prescribers, can prescribe medicines from a specified list of prescription medicines.
Updates to specified prescription medicines lists are undertaken from time to time to ensure the currency of the medicines that designated prescribers can prescribe.
The Director-General of Health authorises the lists of prescription medicines through a notice in the New Zealand Gazette, after a public consultation.
In September, the Ministry of Health consulted on proposals to enable registered nurse prescribers and pharmacist prescribers to prescribe more medicines.
Following this consultation and publication of the New Zealand Gazette notice, registered nurse prescribers will be able to prescribe an additional 211 prescription medicines for common and long-term conditions. These include treatments for high blood pressure, diabetes, and menopause symptoms.
Registered nurse prescribers have met specific requirements from the Nursing Council.
The New Zealand Gazette notice for pharmacist prescribers enables them to prescribe 20 additional medicines, such as new medicines for heart disease and diabetes.
Pharmacist prescribers work and hospitals and general practice. They have met specific requirements and are registered in an additional scope of practice by the Pharmacy Council.
The Ministry of Health has worked with the Nursing and Pharmacy Councils in developing the amendments to the specified prescription medicines lists.
