Paramedics will soon be able to prescribe certain medicines directly to patients under planned Government changes aimed at improving access to healthcare and easing pressure on emergency departments.
Health Minister Simeon Brown announced the move, saying the expanded powers would better reflect the growing role paramedics play in delivering care beyond traditional ambulance services.
Currently, paramedics can administer some medicines under standing orders from authorised prescribers but cannot issue prescriptions themselves. Brown said the existing system creates unnecessary administrative hurdles and can result in patients being referred to hospitals or other healthcare providers simply to obtain medication.
“Giving paramedics the ability to prescribe medicines will enable them to provide more complete care when it is clinically appropriate,” Brown said. “This will be particularly beneficial for people living in rural and remote areas.”
The proposed changes would allow suitably qualified paramedics to become designated prescribers under the Medicines Act 1981. Those who complete the required training would be able to prescribe from an approved list of medicines within their professional scope of practice.
The Government says the change will help patients access treatment more quickly and improve continuity of care, particularly in community and aged-care settings where paramedics are increasingly providing frontline healthcare services.
The Ministry of Health has begun consulting on which medicines paramedic prescribers may be authorised to prescribe. Potential medicines under consideration include treatments for common infections, pain relief, asthma inhalers, diabetes medications, and medicines commonly used in urgent care settings. Some controlled drugs may also be included, although this would require additional regulatory changes.
The Paramedic Council will develop a new prescribing scope of practice and establish education and training requirements for paramedics seeking prescribing authority.
Brown said the initiative forms part of the Government’s broader strategy to make better use of New Zealand’s healthcare workforce and improve patient access to timely treatment.
“These changes will help reduce pressure on emergency departments and hospitals, support more care in the community, and ensure patients receive the treatment they need sooner,” he said.
