Govt back down on medicine dispensing welcomed

National says the Government's back down on three monthly dispensing is a sensible move which shows political and public pressure has worked.

National Health Spokesperson Dr Lynda Scott says doctors and patients always needed the ability to arrange medicine dispensing to suit individual cases.

"We can claim a win here as we have fought hard against three monthly dispensing which would have meant a huge waste of drugs, raised safety issues about drug storage and many hidden costs for example, pharmacy closures and increased rest home costs.

"Now patients who are stable can have their medication issued every three months and others who are trialling new medication or who need monitoring can have one-monthly prescriptions if the doctor suggests this.

"National changed to monthly dispensing in 1997 to avoid all the problems that the 2500 submitters to Pharmac raised. It is pleasing that it has listened to these submissions and decided accordingly," said Dr Scott.

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