12-Month Prescriptions – What This Means for You
Jasper Heijtel
The New Zealand government has announced that prescribers may, under certain conditions, write prescriptions for up to 12 months. This is aimed at making it easier for patients with stable, chronic conditions to access their medication and reduce unnecessary appointments.
This does not automatically mean everyone will receive a 12-month prescription. Whether it is appropriate and safe will always be assessed by your GP or Nurse Practitioner (NP) based on clinical judgment.
How We Will Handle This in Our Practice
At Ohope Beach Medical Centre, safe, personalized, and preventative care is our priority. Therefore, we follow a structured approach for managing medication.
Annual Medication (Wellbeing) Review
All patients on long-term medication will have an annual medication/wellbeing review. This appointment is now scheduled as a double-length consultation to ensure there is sufficient time to:
Review medications for appropriateness and safety
Check for any changes recommended by specialists
Confirm blood tests, measurements, or immunisations are up-to-date
Discuss overall wellbeing, including lifestyle and preventative health measures
For patients considering a 12-month prescription, this review allows us to determine safely if this option is suitable.
Less Frequent Repeat Prescription Requests (for Selected Patients)
For a carefully chosen group of patients, it is safe for them to:
No longer request repeat prescriptions every 3 months
Instead, receive a 12-month prescription with an annual clinical review
This does mean fewer repeat prescription consultations for the practice (and thus reduced revenue), but we consider this a responsible choice for patient convenience and appropriate care.
Important notes:
Even with a 12-month prescription, pharmacies will usually dispense medication in 3-month supplies
Clinical oversight by the practice remains in place
Who Can Qualify for a 12-Month Prescription?
A 12-month prescription is only possible if it is safe and clinically appropriate. Generally, patients must meet these criteria:
Stable, long-term medication No recent changes in dose or type of medication No frequent monitoring required (e.g., blood tests) Medication is clinically suitable for longer prescriptions Recent or planned review with a GP or NP
Controlled drugs (e.g., opioids or other strictly regulated medicines) are not eligible.
How and When This Will Be Introduced
The national system changes in early 2026. To avoid everyone requesting 12-month prescriptions at once:
We are gradually discussing this with patients who may be eligible
Patients will be invited to review this during their annual wellbeing appointment or in a separate consultation
We will decide together if a 12-month prescription is suitable
Please do not automatically request a 12-month prescription; wait until we have discussed this with you or book a review with a GP or NP.
Why This Approach?
Longer prescriptions can be convenient, but quality care requires careful consideration. By:
Providing annual, double-length comprehensive reviews
Allowing sufficient appointment time
Selecting appropriate patients carefully
We ensure convenience does not compromise safety, quality, or preventative care.
If you have any questions about your medication or want to know if this applies to you, please contact our practice.