Prescription fee

A National government would reinstate the prescription fee for those who can afford to pay it, and target those who can’t, says health spokesperson Shane Reti 

Pharmacists around New Zealand are ecstatic that the $5 prescription fee has been removed in the 2023 Budget 

Hopes are high the Government will remove the prescription fee in this week’s Budget

As pressure builds to scrap the $5 prescription copayment, the Government is standing firm on keeping it in place  

Early-career pharmacists might benefit from National’s bonding scheme to retain nurses and midwives 

The newly-formed Prescription Access Initiative group is calling on the Government to scrap the prescription copayment, saying evidence proves it fuels medication nonadherence and patient harm. Paulette Crowley reports

The newly-formed Prescription Access Initiative group is calling on the Government to scrap the prescription copayment, saying evidence proves it fuels medication nonadherence and patient harm. Paulette Crowley reports

Te Whatu Ora has extended the waiver of the $5 prescription fee for displaced people in and from areas affected by Cyclone Gabrielle

Pharmacists in areas where the $5 prescription charge was temporarily waived following Cyclone Gabrielle say the change has improved medicines access, and they want it extended

Incoming health minister Ayesha Verrall recognises that the $5 prescription copayment is a barrier to patients accessing medicines – but she has no plans to remove it.