Prescriptions – what’s changing?
Currently most prescriptions are given in 3-month instalments and patients need to see their provider (General Practitioner or Nurse Practitioner) for repeat prescriptions or request them via the phone or patient portal. From 1st February 2026 prescribers will be able to issue some patients with a prescription for 12 months, but only if it is clinically safe to do so.
Am I eligible for a 12-month prescription?
You may be eligible if:
- Your health condition and medication have been stable for at least 6 months
- You don’t need regular monitoring (like blood tests or blood pressure checks)
- The medicine is approved for 12-month prescribing
- You agree to yearly in-person medication reviews to check the medicine is still suitable.
You will need to book an appointment with your provider to discuss getting a 12-month prescription, this will not be done on a repeat prescription request. The decision whether to extend your prescription length or not will be a shared decision between you and your provider, and your health and safety will always be at the centre of any decision made.
Who may not be eligible?
Some prescriptions won’t be eligible for the 12-month option, including:
- Controlled medicines (e.g. opioids, stimulants)
- Conditions or medications that require regular monitoring
- Recent hospital admission or changes in your health
- Polypharmacy (many regular medicines) or age‑related risks where closer follow‑up is safer.
What’s not changing?
You will still collect medicines in 3-month instalments from the same pharmacy but will only need to pay a co-payment fee (e.g. $5) on the first collection. You will not be able to collect 12 months’ worth of your medication at once, even with a 12-month prescription.
Need more information? Talk to your GP or Nurse Practitioner during your next appointment.
