If you live in New Zealand and are on regular medication for your medical condition, you would visit your doctor or go online every three months to get your repeat prescription. That is because NZ currently limits prescription medicine supply to a maximum of three months. It may be noted that this is based on the Medicines Regulations 1984. According to Regulation 39A: Limit on period of supply of prescription medicines (inserted, on 1 December 2011, by regulation 15 of the Medicines Amendment Regulations 2011), which reads as follows:
(1) An authorised prescriber may not on any occasion prescribe for any patient a quantity of any prescription medicine that exceeds—
(a) 6 months’ supply in the case of an oral contraceptive; or
(b) 3 months’ supply in any other case.
(2) However, the Director-General may, at his or her discretion, authorise—
(a) an authorised prescriber to prescribe for any patient, or any specified class or classes of patients, a quantity of a prescription medicine exceeding the period of supply in subclause (1)?(a) or (b):
(b) a class of authorised prescribers to prescribe for any patient, or any specified class or classes of patients, a quantity of a prescription medicine exceeding the period of supply in subclause (1) ?(a) or (b).
However, this restriction of three months on repeat prescription means that a patient has to visit or order his repeat medicine quarterly and pay for it each time. This does create hassles for many.
In an attempt to address this, John Handforth has started a petition: ‘NZ Prescription Medicine Supply Increase.’
Explaining the idea behind it, Handforth wrote, “The supply chain of medicine in NZ relies on doctors and pharmacists who are in short supply and overworked. Paying for doctor visits and prescriptions every three months puts unnecessary monetary pressure on NZ families as well as extra pressure on the health workforce. I feel many New Zealanders with chronic but stable conditions would both manage and benefit from access to more than three months’ supply at a time.”
Vanessa Gay, a supporter of the petition, maintains, “I totally agree with six month supply for people with stable conditions that are safely able to manage the amount of supply. It should be a patient/ doctor decision when making a health plan. Unnecessary cost and time involved in current three months supply. With the current NZ shortages of pharmacists, going to six month supply’s would help ease the burden.”
One of the signatories, Denise Cuthbert, says, “Waste of GPs time, Pharmacists time and my time to have to get repeat prescriptions every three months when it could be six-monthly.”
Sharing her thoughts, Kerri Bowman, another co-signer, wrote, “As a type 1 diabetic, I am always needing insulin; it would help so much to not have to pay for Dr's etc. every three months."
'It's a complex issue.'
Dr Bryan Betty, Medical Director of The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners, feels that this issue is quite complex and has many layers, including the medicine supply chain.
Betty says, "Firstly, there are issues around medication supply chains as NZ is at the bottom of global supply chains. NZ is very dependent on medication coming through on a regular basis from overseas. So, there is an issue around how much medication can be given out at once in NZ because you don't want to overstretch the supplies of medication here."
Betty acknowledges that the cost aspect of the repeat prescription is government policy and is often debated. He says, "The payment aspect is part of government policy. It has been discussed repeatedly as to whether it should be lifted. And whether taking it away would improve access to medication'. He also points out 'While the government fully funds a hospital, general practices are not, and that's why there is the cost component".
Lastly, he also touches on the point that with some medications, there is a requirement for frequent review on safety grounds. And that becomes an issue with GPs as to how frequently reviews should be done with certain medications.
"No immediate change being considered."
When Indian Weekender got in touch with the Ministry of Health about their take on the issue, the Ministry’s spokesperson said, “The Regulation 39A of the Medicines Regulations 1984 outlines that prescription medicines cannot be supplied for a time that exceeds three months' supply. This regulation is intended to ensure that a patient's health and ongoing need for medicine is reviewed regularly by their prescriber or GP. If a patient requires any further supply beyond what has been prescribed, then they must consult with their prescriber.”
The spokesperson confirmed that any immediate change to the legislation is not on their agenda.
“An immediate change to the legislation is not being considered at this time. However, any change would be part of the detailed regulations to be developed under the Therapeutic Products Bill. The Bill is expected to be introduced to Parliament later this year,” the spokesperson signed off.
You can find the petition at: https://www.change.org/p/nz-prescription-medicine-supply-increase?source_location=petitions_browse
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