Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health
Designated pharmacist prescribers have met specific requirements and are registered in an additional scope of practice by the Pharmacy Council. They work in collaborative multidisciplinary teams and only prescribe medicines within their specific area of practice, from a gazetted list of specified prescription medicines.
The Ministry of Health (the Ministry), on behalf of the Director-General of Health, working with the Pharmacy Council of New Zealand, is responsible for establishing and maintaining the gazetted specified prescription medicines list.
The specified prescription medicines list needs to be updated from time to time as additional medicines become available.
When updating the list of specified prescription medicines, the Director-General must consult with those organisations or bodies that appear to the Director-General to be representative of persons likely to be substantially affected by the publication of the list of specified prescription medicines.
The Ministry undertook a consultation on the Pharmacy Council’s proposed amendments to the specified prescription medicines list from 18 September to 17 October 2025.
This publication provides the analysis of submissions on the proposed amendments to the specified prescription medicines lists for designated pharmacist prescribers and Schedule 1B of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1977 consultation.
