The Ministry of Health is leading the health sector’s response and is working closely with Health New Zealand, Pharmac and other health agencies to identify and manage any emerging risks.
What this means for health services
Our priority is making sure people can continue to access the health services, medicines and medical devices they need.
The Government has released the Fuel Response Plan 2026 which sets out four phases for responding to fuel shortages.
The Ministry of Health is developing a Health Sector Fuel Response Plan which will confirm what Phases 2, 3 and 4 would mean for health services.
New Zealand is currently in Phase 1 of the Fuel Response Plan, which means the situation is being closely monitored. There are no fuel restrictions at this time.
If fuel supplies become more limited, New Zealand may move into later phases of the fuel response plan.
At Phases 2 and 3 the health system would look to reduce fuel usage where possible while maintaining patient access and continuity of care.
At Phase 4 the Government would introduce measures to manage the supply of fuel and prioritise access. Health services are categorised as critical and would therefore be prioritised for fuel allocation with no caps.
We are currently considering how the health system can manage its own fuel use to maintain effective delivery of health services. This will be a key focus if New Zealand moves into Phase 2 of the Fuel Response Plan. Measures to prioritise fuel supplies for critical services will only be introduced if New Zealand moves into Phase 4 of the Fuel Response Plan. Prioritisation of fuel supplies will ensure the health system is able to continue delivering health services so people can continue to receive the care they need.
Medicines and medical supplies
Pharmac manages the supply of medicines and medical devices on an ongoing basis. It has established processes to ensure the continued supply of these products and is already using these to ensure New Zealanders have access to the medicines, medical products and health equipment they need.
Most medical suppliers are required to hold at least two months’ stock in New Zealand, with higher requirements for some vaccines and medical devices.
Up to date information on supply issues is available on the Pharmac website. There is a filter for those supply issues that are related to the Middle East conflict.
New Zealand’s supply of medicines has remained reliable during previous global disruptions. Pharmac is continuing to closely monitor the situation and will provide updates as needed.
Support for health workers and patients
- The Government has increased mileage rates for Home and Community Support workers and the National Travel Assistance Scheme by 30%. See National Travel Assistance on the Health New Zealand website.
- The Government has provided cost of living support, including a $50 per week increase to the in-work tax credit for around 143,000 working families. This support has been in place since 7 April 2026.
Questions and answers
What is the Ministry of Health doing in response to the Middle East conflict?
The Ministry of Health is leading coordination of the health sector’s response as part of the All‑of‑Government approach. We are working closely with Health New Zealand, Pharmac, the New Zealand Blood and Organ Service, ACC and other health agencies to monitor developments and identify any emerging risks early. At this stage, New Zealanders can continue to access health services and medicines as usual.
Are there any risks to the supply of medicines or medical devices because of the conflict?
Health agencies, including Pharmac, are closely monitoring global supply chains and freight routes as part of routine supply management. New Zealand’s medicines supply system has proven resilient through previous global disruptions, and agencies are well placed to respond if issues emerge.
Is the Ministry expecting a prolonged fuel shortage?
We are planning for a range of scenarios. We will be guided by the broader Government’s assessment of the likely impacts of the conflict on New Zealand’s fuel, but the Government is working to ensure that fuel shortages do not eventuate in New Zealand.
At present, there are no fuel restrictions in place, and our focus is on monitoring the impacts of the Middle East conflict and understanding the flow-on effects for the health system. We are also developing a health sector response plan about how we will manage the impacts on the health sector.
Will the Middle East conflict lead to impacts on New Zealanders accessing services?
At present, New Zealanders can continue to access health services and medicines as usual. We are also planning ahead so that we can do what’s needed to ensure people can continue to receive the health care they need if the situation changes.
Our priority is understanding and any risks to health care delivery and acting on these early so New Zealanders can continue to receive the care they need.
Will providers receive extra funding to offset rising fuel costs?
Our priority is to understand where there may be issues that impact on delivery of services or patients’ access to these. We are working with health providers on how we can adapt delivery of services to ensure these remain effective and accessible to those who need them.
More information
For more information on the Government’s announcement, links to a factsheet, Q&A and information on diesel and petrol phase 4 prioritisation, see Flexibility, adaptability key to Fuel Response Plan | Beehive.govt.nz.
