Medical Prescriptions

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madcarue

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#201793 4-Sep-2016 09:27

I used to get all my medical prescription (3 month) in one visit to chemist but now have to settle for "you have 2 repeats left before March 7th" type of thing.

When I questioned this I was told it is illegal to supply all items at the same time. Is this true?

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#1622252 4-Sep-2016 09:34

That is how my scripts are done. It is to prevent wastages

marlinz

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#1622253 4-Sep-2016 09:34

not sure on the legal side, but some medication has a limited shelf life , hence the repeat senario situation

timmmay

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#1622256 4-Sep-2016 09:46

It's in the rules around how medications are funded. There are exceptions for people going on holiday or such. If you know the pharmacy well they may be open to using the holiday option for you regularly, especially for long term medication, but I don't think they're meant to.

gzt

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#1622321 4-Sep-2016 11:11

madcarue:
I used to get all my medical prescription (3 month) in one visit to chemist but now have to settle for "you have 2 repeats left before March 7th" type of thing.

When I questioned this I was told it is illegal to supply all items at the same time. Is this true?

No idea on legality. Most likely pharmacy best practice in adhering to the prescription specification. Ask your doctor to prescribe it slightly differently. Imo if the doctor is in agreement then it is not a problem.

nigelj

856 posts

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#1622363 4-Sep-2016 12:35

Pharmac is the one that controls if it can be dispensed all at once or not, check out http://pharmac.govt.nz/2016/09/01/Schedule.pdf they may've changed it for what you are on for any number of reasons.

MikeB4

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#1622381 4-Sep-2016 12:59

My meds come mostly monthly, there is a couple that I get three months at a time. The expensive ones I get monthly and I need to arrange them a few days before needed as they have to be ordered in.

By arrangement I can get the injections early I I am travelling.

networkn

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#1622384 4-Sep-2016 13:10

There is no legal issue, it's to do with Funding, shelf life, and wastage. it's easier for Doctors and Chemists to say it's a legal issue as it prevents most of the follow up "can you make an exception for me" type questions.

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richms

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#1622385 4-Sep-2016 13:15

Ive always just had to sign something saying that I need it for transportation issues and being able to get all 3 months of stuff at once.

Richard rich.ms

Brumfondl

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#1622389 4-Sep-2016 13:25

Pretty sure there IS actually a legal issue and has been for many years now. If getting to a pharmacy once a month is a hardship you can sign a form saying such and they will give you everything at once though.

eracode

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#1622393 4-Sep-2016 13:42

I have been getting three-monthly scripts for years and have never had this issue - in fact I've not even heard of it before.

Maybe it depends on exactly what medication you are getting?

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

JimmyH

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#1622408 4-Sep-2016 14:12

In my experience, you can get the doctor to just write "no repeats" on the prescription, which means that you get them all at once.

That's what I have done previously when I was going overseas and wanted everything at once.

I generally also get him to write "no substitutions" as well, as that means that the pharmacist can't use discretion to replace what has actually been prescribed with a random generic - as these have caused me problems in the past.

timmmay

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#1622442 4-Sep-2016 14:37

"No repeats" could also mean you only get one month supply. There's better language for it, but I forget what it is right now. From the PHARMAC schedule (linked above)

❋ Three months dispensed all-at-once or, in the case of oral contraceptives, six months dispensed all-at-once, unless the medicine meets the Dispensing Frequency Rule criteria.

If you opt for branded you may end up paying full price, rather than the subsidized generic price.

Sideface

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#1622444 4-Sep-2016 14:39

eracode:

<snip> Maybe it depends on exactly what medication you are getting?

It does.

Narcotic drugs such as codeine have a strict one-month limit.

As already mentioned, the other problem is wastage - in the past a lot of money has been wasted when people stop using expensive medications that have been dispensed for three months.

Most people have no idea just how expensive prescription drugs are, because they are heavily subsidized by the taxpayer.

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farcus

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#1622448 4-Sep-2016 14:49

JimmyH:

In my experience, you can get the doctor to just write "no repeats" on the prescription, which means that you get them all at once.

That's what I have done previously when I was going overseas and wanted everything at once.

that's not necessary. Just tell the pharmacist you are travelling overseas and they will dispense all at once.
If I remember correctly, you have to sign some kind of form when getting them dispensed all at once for travelling.

Athlonite

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#1622752 4-Sep-2016 21:44

A lot will depend on what the script is for heavy duty pain relief and the like will most likely be monthly only to stop people being able to sell it aswell as any meds that may require you to have blood pressure/tests done may also require the monthly issue

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