Background
The extension of prescribing rights
In New Zealand the following health practitioners can legally prescribe 'presciption only' medicines:
- registered medical practitioners,
- midwives,
- dentists, and
- some nurse practitioners practising in aged care or child family health.
These health practitioners are regarded as having 'independent prescribing rights' - that is they can prescribe prescription medicines to consumer groups who have conditions that fall within particular prescribing parameters.
Prescribing parameters include:
- scope of practice,
- client/age group,
- disease conditions, and
- setting.
The New Zealand Government agreed that extending limited independent prescribing authority to other health professionals was one way to improve access to health care in the community and provide people with better health care services.
The establishment of NPAC
The New Prescribers Advisory Committee was established under section 8 of the Medicines Act 1981.
The disestablishment of NPAC
On 7 July 2006 the Minister of Health chose to disestablish the New Prescribers Advisory Committee. The Committee's unconcluded business will be concluded through an alternative assessment process.
Future applications for the extension of prescribing rights should be made in the first instance to the Ministry of Health. A process to assess the appropriateness of an extension of prescribing rights will be determined upon receipt of an application.