Nurse Practitioners Granted Wider Prescribing Powers to Speed Up Patient Care

The Medicines Amendment Bill modernises New Zealand’s medicines framework to support safer, more efficient prescribing by qualified health professionals.

New Zealanders will now have faster access to essential medicines thanks to a major legislative reform that expands the prescribing authority of nurse practitioners. Health Minister Simeon Brown says the change—enabled through the newly passed Medicines Amendment Bill—will significantly improve patient outcomes by reducing delays, strengthening continuity of care, and allowing nurse practitioners to work to the full extent of their professional scope.

The reform marks one of the most substantial updates to medicines legislation in years, reflecting the evolving needs of the healthcare system and the increasingly central role played by nurse practitioners across the country.

A Transformative Change for Patient Access

Minister Brown described the reform as “transformative,” emphasising the practical benefits for patients who often face long wait times or limited access to clinicians—particularly in rural and high-demand communities. Under previous rules, nurse practitioners were constrained by restrictive prescribing limitations that frequently required patients to be referred to a doctor even when the nurse practitioner was fully qualified to provide the necessary treatment.

“These outdated barriers caused unnecessary delays,” Brown said. “The Bill removes those obstacles so people can get the right medicine, from the right clinician, at the right time.”

Now, when a nurse practitioner identifies an appropriate treatment for a patient within their defined scope of practice, they will be able to prescribe the medication directly—cutting weeks off treatment pathways and easing pressure across the wider health workforce.

What the Medicines Amendment Bill Delivers

The Medicines Amendment Bill modernises New Zealand’s medicines framework to support safer, more efficient prescribing by qualified health professionals. Key elements of the reform include:

• Expanding the list of medicines nurse practitioners may prescribe, in line with their advanced training and clinical authority.

• Removing outdated restrictions that previously required prescribers to refer patients elsewhere unnecessarily.

• Updating regulatory settings to ensure medicine supply and prescribing rules reflect current clinical practice and workforce needs.

• Improving efficiency in primary care, aged residential care, and rural health settings by enabling clinicians to provide care more directly.

These changes strengthen the ability of the health system to respond to increasing demand, particularly as New Zealand continues to face workforce shortages across medical and nursing professions.

Recognising a Highly Skilled Workforce

Nurse practitioners—registered nurses with advanced clinical training, postgraduate qualifications, and prescribing capabilities—play a crucial role in diagnosing, treating, and managing patient health conditions. Many serve as the lead clinician for individuals, families, and communities, often working autonomously in general practice, urgent care, rural clinics, and aged-care facilities.

Minister Brown acknowledged that nurse practitioners have been advocating for expanded prescribing authority for many years, arguing that the previous legislative settings failed to reflect their expertise.

“They are a vital part of our health system and play an increasingly important role in meeting patient needs, particularly in communities where access to doctors can be limited,” Brown said. “This is a practical change that will make it easier for people to get the care they need, when they need it.”

Benefits for Rural and Underserved Communities

Many rural communities rely heavily on nurse practitioners due to ongoing shortages of general practitioners. The expanded prescribing authority is expected to make a noticeable difference in these areas, reducing travel time, speeding up treatment, and improving patient outcomes.

In aged residential care, where nurse practitioners often oversee complex medication regimes, the reform will streamline care planning, reduce administrative burdens, and provide more consistent medical oversight.

Strengthening the Health System Overall

Beyond improving patient convenience, the reforms are expected to ease pressure on doctors by redistributing prescribing responsibilities in a safe, regulated way. This supports broader health system goals of increasing workforce flexibility, improving patient flow, and enhancing the resilience of healthcare services.

With the Medicines Amendment Bill now passed, implementation will begin across the health sector, accompanied by updated guidelines and training support where needed.

“This is a common-sense update that recognises the advanced skills and experience of nurse practitioners,” said Brown. “It empowers them to deliver the high-quality care they are trained for, and ultimately helps us build a more responsive and patient-focused health system.”