A research project offering free prescriptions to volunteer participants and targeting Hawke's Bay and some other areas has been extended to include sufferers of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
Otago University research fellow Kim Cousins says that at the time the study was announced, COPD was yet to be approved as part of the criteria.
Already included in the study were those on anti-psychotics or medicines for type 2 diabetes or emphysema.
Those running the research are recruiting 2000 volunteers aged over 18, half of whom will receive free prescriptions for 12 months, with the other half receiving a $100 supermarket voucher to recognise their participation.
Cousins said there had been a good uptake since volunteers were first sought in Hawke's Bay last month, and the push is now on to fill the numbers to start the project on February 1, the expiry date for prescription cards under which users pay for their first 20 prescriptions.