Less prescription dispensing mooted

People will have to make fewer trips to a pharmacy for prescriptions if a proposal by the Government's drug-buying agency is accepted.

Pharmac is seeking public feedback on the plan, which would allow most three-month prescriptions to be dispensed at the first visit, rather than monthly.

Pharmac chief executive Wayne McNee said feedback to the agency and other Government bodies indicated that most people did not wish to visit the pharmacy three times for one prescription.

The convenience for patients was one of a number of benefits the dispensing changes would bring for health providers and the sector as a whole, he said.

Pharmacists' workload would be reduced, giving them more time to devote to patients and to develop their role in providing advice.

A number of medicines such as sleeping pills and some types of pain-killing drugs would continue to be dispensed monthly.

Auckland District Health Board chief executive Graeme Edmond said the proposal would free up about $35 million in funding.

Pharmac has given a deadline for feedback of April 28.

- NZPA