Five of the country's 21 district health boards are still refusing to sign a national contract with pharmacists for drug-dispensing fees.
Northland, the three Auckland boards and Hawkes Bay have opted out of a collective fees agreement between the Government and the Pharmacy Guild.
Graeme Edmond, Auckland board chief executive and spokesman for the five boards, said they were not prepared to pay a higher fee with no change in service from pharmacies.
Mr Edmond said the five would work with pharmacists in the New Year to come to an agreement.
Pharmacy Guild Whangarei spokesman Chris Porter said if the matter was not sorted out it would lead to higher prescription costs for Northlanders and less access to pharmacy medicines.
The Government has worked with the Pharmacy Guild for two years to agree to a higher fee it hoped would be nationwide.
The number of pharmacies in New Zealand has fallen from about 1150 a decade ago to fewer than 950.
- NZPA
District health boards resist drugs deal
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