For 12-month prescribing to be safe for Māori explicit safeguards are needed, Te Tiratū Iwi Māori Partnership Board says in a Position Statement authored by pharmacist Leanne Te Karu.
Ensuring barriers to access are recognised and removed is key, rather than reduced Māori engagement with their prescriber and medicines by way of a longer prescribing period.
The extended period will work well if it reduces routine GP visits for people with stable conditions, easing pressure on primary care services, but may not provide the same benefits to Māori Tiratū chief executive Brandi Hudson says.