What advice did the Minister receive and from whom did he receive it regarding change to 12 month prescriptions
Annie Judkins made this Official Information request to Ministry of Health
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From: Annie Judkins
Dear Minister of Health,
I am concerned that a decision was made, without any public consultation and announced on Budget Day, that prescriptions will change to 12 monthly soon.
As a life-time committed Not for profit driven Doctor, I do not make money out of patients seeking medical care. I strive for quality care for all my patients.
This often requires delicate management of people, time, place, prescriptions, complications, interactions, interval symptoms, intercurrent illnesses and changes within all the above. In addition, we have frequently over the last 20 years had prolonged periods where specific medications are not available within the country due to Sole Provider pharmaceuticals, and the idea of patients stockpiling 12 months of medication is at best ludicrous, at worst dangerous.
Never have I thought, read or discussed any advantage to anyone, particularly the unwell, that 12 months prescriptions would improve the health outcome for our disadvantaged patients.
Can you please, under the OIA, forward copies of all the information that the Minister of Health had at his disposal in making this random decision, and what the driver for this change was.
I look forward to receiving this obviously very insightful information that nobody else in my industry seems to know anything about.
Nga mihi
Dr Annie Judkins
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Annie
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act), received by the Ministry of Health on 6 June 2025. You requested:
I am concerned that a decision was made, without any public consultation
and announced on Budget Day, that prescriptions will change to 12 monthly
soon.
As a life-time committed Not for profit driven Doctor, I do not make money
out of patients seeking medical care. I strive for quality care for all
my patients.
This often requires delicate management of people, time, place,
prescriptions, complications, interactions, interval symptoms,
intercurrent illnesses and changes within all the above. In addition, we
have frequently over the last 20 years had prolonged periods where
specific medications are not available within the country due to Sole
Provider pharmaceuticals, and the idea of patients stockpiling 12 months
of medication is at best ludicrous, at worst dangerous.
Never have I thought, read or discussed any advantage to anyone,
particularly the unwell, that 12 months prescriptions would improve the
health outcome for our disadvantaged patients.
Can you please, under the OIA, forward copies of all the information that
the Minister of Health had at his disposal in making this random decision,
and what the driver for this change was.
I look forward to receiving this obviously very insightful information
that nobody else in my industry seems to know anything about.
The reference number for your request is H2025068165. As required under
the Act, the Ministry will endeavour to respond to your request no later
than 20 working days after the day your request was received:
http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/.
If you have any queries related to this request, please do not hesitate to
get in touch ([1][email address]).
Ngā mihi
OIA Services Team
[2]Ministry of Health information releases
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References
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1. mailto:[email address]
2. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora,
Thank you for your request for official information received on 6 June
2025 requesting:
“I am concerned that a decision was made, without any public consultation
and announced on Budget Day, that prescriptions will change to 12 monthly
soon...
...Can you please, under the OIA, forward copies of all the information
that the Minister of Health had at his disposal in making this random
decision, and what the driver for this change was.”
The Ministry of Health has decided to extend the period of time available
to respond to your request under section 15A of the Official Information
Act 1982 (the Act) as consultations necessary to make a decision on the
request are such that a proper response to the request cannot reasonably
be made within the original time limit.
You can now expect a response to your request on, or before, 21 June 2025.
You have the right, under section 28 of the Act, to ask the Ombudsman to
review my decision to extend the time available to respond to your
request.
Ngâ mihi
OIA Services Team
Ministry of Health | Manatû Hauora
M[1]inistry of Health information releases
show quoted sections
References
Visible links
1. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora,
Please find attached the response for your request for official
information.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services Team
Ministry of Health | Manatū Hauora
M[1]inistry of Health information releases
show quoted sections
References
Visible links
1. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
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