Process
What happened after NPAC provided recommendations to the Minister of Health?
1. NPAC provides advice to the Minister of Health on a particular application for prescribing rights.
2. The Minister of Health makes a decision whether to accept the advice and/or seek further advice from the Ministry of Health, or other advisory committees established under the Medicines Act 1981.
3. If the Minister of Health is satisfied, she notifies the Ministry of Health that she wishes to take the matter to Cabinet.
4. The Ministry of Health prepares a paper for the Minister and consults key stakeholders and other government agencies on the proposals contained in the paper. This process usually takes 4 - 12 weeks.
5. Cabinet considers the paper and makes a decision.
6. Cabinet issues drafting instructions to Parliamentary Counsel Office (PCO) if it is in agreement with the extension of limited independent prescribing authority to a particular class of health practitioner. Regulations will be made under the Medicines Act 1981.
7. Drafting may take a number of months depending on the workload of PCO and the priority of other legislation being drafted.
8. The Ministry of Health will consult with other government departments in New Zealand on the draft regulations. Further amendments to the regulations may occur at this stage.
9. Draft regulations are submitted to the Cabinet Legislation Committee (LEG).
10. LEG considers the draft regulation, ensuring it complies with the previous Cabinet decision.
11. LEG's decision is referred to Cabinet for confirmation or amendment.
12. If confirmed the proposed regulations are submitted to the Governor-General in Executive Council for approval and signature.
13. Once signed, the regulations are publicly notified in The Gazette and generally come into force 28 days from the date of notification.
1 PCO is the central body that drafts the government legislation.