Amendments will facilitate approval of medicines in under 30 days in certain situations
Parliament passed the Medicines Amendment Bill at first reading. This legislation introduces amendments to the Medicines Act 1981 seeking to increase patients’ access to medicines, said Simeon Brown, health minister, and David Seymour, associate health minister.
Brown said the changes covered by the Medicines Amendment Bill aim to support the government’s objective of ensuring the health system can be more efficient and the health workforce can improve the care provided.
“We are committed to ensuring Kiwis have access to timely, quality healthcare in their communities,” Brown said in the government’s news release.
Seymour welcomed the passage of the legislation. “We know expanding access to medicines significantly improves New Zealanders’ health and life outcomes,” Seymour said.
Brown said the Medicines Amendment Bill increases the prescribing rights of nurse practitioners within their scope of practice. This means they can prescribe more medicines and improve the continuity of their patient care, Brown explained.
Brown described nurse practitioners as highly skilled health professionals who serve an important role in patient care and work in environments such as rural areas and the homes of those in aged residential care.
Brown added that “when there are supply shortages of approved medicines, other professions, such as dentists, pharmacist prescribers, midwives, and registered nurse prescribers, will be able to prescribe replacement medicines that are funded by Pharmac.”
The changes introduced will also allow for the approval of medicines in under 30 days if two recognised overseas jurisdictions have approved those products, Seymour said. This change called the ‘Rule of Two’ seeks to make it faster and easier for pharmaceutical companies to secure product approvals in New Zealand, Seymour noted.
“The Medicines Amendment Bill also updates the settings for the Medicines Classification Committee, which has an important role in providing access to medicines,” Seymour said. “The Bill modernises the membership requirements for the Committee and removes outdated provisions from the Act.”
Seymour noted that the government has previously taken steps aiming to improve Kiwis’ access to medicines, including regulatory changes, an investment in Pharmac, and increased funding for cancer and other medicines.
The government said it is continuing to work on the new Medical Products Bill, which seeks to replace the Medicines Act.
