“I have spent more time with my patients in the past three months. Removing the 'transaction' approach to healthcare is amazing.”
HAWKES BAY PHARMACIST
The positive healthcare effects of universal fees-free prescriptions have been far better than expected.
Read our new survey report here
Better healthcare for all: Community pharmacy staff on the effects of universal fees-free prescriptions
PATIENT CO-PAYMENT
The 2023 Community Pharmacy Election is approaching, and it's crucial for your favorite pharmacy. Here's the scoop:
Most parties support fees-free prescriptions for all Kiwis, but a few may use pharmacists for taxing when sick.
Some parties prioritize patients over profits by safeguarding non-pharmacist ownership of pharmacies. Others are unclear or didn't respond.
Your voice matters! Let's stay informed for the upcoming election!
As well as far better access to vital medicines, benefits of universal fees-free prescriptions include: better preventative care & early interventions for all patients; better safety for all patients; better continuity of care; elimination of financial shame for patients; and elimination of abuse of pharmacy staff caused by that distress.
National’s plan to introduce prescriptions fees for most people would make primary healthcare worse for all New Zealanders.
The increase in red tape would cut deeply into pharmacy services such as one-on-one patient education for all patients, regardless of whether or not their prescriptions are still free. And lots of people who are struggling will again face a cost barrier to vital medicines. The resulting patient distress will be high – and it is completely avoidable.
"Without co-payment hassles we have been able to see the wood for the trees and we dread having to go back to collecting them again." – Northland
We recommend the Government support fees-free prescriptions for all in perpetuity.
The co-payment is a barrier to health, which leads to diminishing wellbeing of New Zealanders.
AS WITNESSED BY PHARMACISTS AND THEIR TEAMS...
"People not showing up to collect prescriptions, people only taking part of their prescription, people waiting until pay day, people asking about alternative options for their condition to avoid getting the prescription. This happens all the time, the cost of living is simply so high…people are having to choose to go without."
OTAGO PHARMACIST
"The worse case I know of is a man who didn't pick up meds because of the price. He didn't tell anyone, even his whanau. Then one day he had a massive stroke."
WELLINGTON PHARMACIST
"The main knock on effect of the prescription fee is that the patient has a negative experience with the New Zealand health system and is less likely to engage with doctors and pharmacists for their health needs, leading to worse health outcomes."
HAWKES BAY PHARMACIST
"Pharmac has negotiated a good price for medicines (and some are very expensive ones too) to be funded in Aotearoa, only to be declined by the patient because they can’t afford to pay the $5 fee for these medicines."
NORTHLAND PHARMACIST
In March 2023, the Independent Community Pharmacy Group (ICPG) and the Prescription Access Initiative (PAI) asked community pharmacists to share what they’d seen of the effects of the prescription fee on their own communities. A survey encouraged open-ended responses on: patient responses to unaffordable prescriptions; immediate and knock-on effects of the fee for the patient; effects on patients’ family members; effects on patients with medium and high incomes; and effects on the pharmacists themselves. The response was overwhelming – this report contains only a fraction of the deep worry, care, and frustration poured out by more than 150 pharmacists from all around the country (all quotes in the report are from community pharmacists).
ABOUT
WHO WE ARE
Prescription Access Initiative (PAI) is a group of passionate pharmacists in Aotearoa New Zealand who care deeply for whānau and our communities. We believe that all people should be enabled and supported to reach the highest attainable standard of health and wellbeing. We work to empower all people to exercise choice, and have access to the highest-level-medicine-related care in Aotearoa.
OUR VISION
Aotearoa New Zealand WITHOUT the co-payment: better, more equitable healthcare
The FreeMeds Study
Recent research by the University of Otago confirms that prescription fees are significantly increasing the number of people admitted to hospital – creating high levels of entirely unnecessary and preventable distress.
1055 people around New Zealand participated in the study. About half of the participants are Maori. Participants had health problems (diabetes, COPD, mental health). People were divided into two groups: one group the researcher paid the $5 co-payment for one year. The other group kept paying as usual.
For every 100 people who did not have to pay the co-payment
For every 100 people who did not have to pay the co-payment
For every 100 people who did not have to pay the co-payment
Based on the study results, if 10000 people like the study participants not having to pay the $5 co-payment, we might expect:
1927 fewer people admitted to hospital
11785 less days in hospital each year
The cost of a day in hospital is about $1500.
For every 100 people who did not have to pay the co-payment
33 were admitted to hospital
They spent 208 days in hospital
including 13 days for COPD & 11 days for mental health problems
For every 100 people who had to pay the co-payment
41 were admitted to hospital
They spent 326 days in hospital
including 53 days for COPD & 21 days for mental health problems
People are affected by the $5 co-payment
"Kids first. Like if I have to wait for my script. I will wait for next week or next fortnight or whatever, so as long as the kids have you know, what they need"
"I couldn't pay another $35 prescription charges. It's just a wee bit too high for me. So I've had to sort of cut back on stuff, Like maybe take some medications every second day instead of every day. Yep."
"I've been on nothing, hardly anything for two weeks, just so that I could have my pills. So it's nothing for me to starve myself."
The government should remove the patient co-payment on prescriptions for all subsidised medicines for all people of Aotearoa New Zealand to immediately improve health and wellbeing.
PAI is dedicated to promote access to prescription medicines and empowering people's freedom of choice. Our efforts are guided by our commitment to health equity for people of New Zealand.
Learn More about Our Work
GET INVOLVED
Help Us Succeed
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Talk About The Issue
⫸Tell Family, Friends, and Community
⫸ Discuss with Your Health Provider
⫸ Share on Social Media
Collaborate With Us
⫸Tell Us Your Co-payment Story
⫸ Work with Us to Help Your Community
⫸ Show Your Support
Contact Your Local MP
⫸ Write to Your MP to Tell Them You Believe The Co-payment should be Removed