Position Statement – 12-Month Prescriptions

Te Tirātū Iwi Māori Partnership Board believes that extending prescriptions to 12 months, without strong safeguards, risks deepening medicines-related inequities for Māori. While longer prescriptions may benefit a small number of clinically stable patients, Māori already face under-diagnosis, reduced monitoring, fragmented care, and culturally unsafe prescribing. Prescription duration alone cannot address barriers such as cost, transport, limited continuity of care, and systemic bias, and may increase under-care, delayed treatment, and medicine-related harm.

Te Tirātū calls on the Crown to implement 12-month prescriptions only within a Te Tiriti-aligned, equity-led framework. This must include mandatory monitoring of access and clinical safety, Māori-led evaluation, culturally safe practice, clear standards for review and prescribing, and formal recognition of rongoā Māori. Without these measures, long-duration prescriptions risk entrenching inequities rather than improving the safety, mana, and wellbeing of whānau Māori.

References:

[1] Te Karu, L. (2021). Restoration of the health system must not neglect medicines – but who has the power of reform? Journal of Primary Health Care, 13(2), 96–101.

[2] Te Karu, L , Bryant, L., Harwood, M., & Arroll, B. (2018). Achieving health equity in Aotearoa New Zealand: The contribution of medicines optimisation. Journal of Primary Health Care, 10(1), 11–15.

[3] Horsburgh, S., & Norris, P. (2013). Ethnicity and access to prescription medicines. The New Zealand Medical Journal, 126(1384), 7–11.

[4] Metcalfe, S., Beyene, K., Urlich, J., Jones, R., Proffitt, C., Harrison, J., & Andrews, Ā. (2018). Te Wero tonu-the challenge continues: Māori access to medicines 2006/072012/13 update. The New Zealand Medical Journal, 131(1485), 27–47.

[5] Waitangi Tribunal. (2019). Hauora. Report on Stage One of the Health Services and Outcomes Kaupapa Inquiry. WAI 2575. Waitangi Tribunal Report 2019. Waitangi Tribunal. https://www.waitangitribunal.govt.nz/news/report-on-stage-one-of-healthservices-and-outcomes-released/