Since Jul 1, patients will no longer face a $5 top-up fee for funded prescriptions – but the new policy will not survive a change in Government. 

The National Party and Act Party confirmed it would reinstate the fee if it was elected this year.

University of Otago study that showed lower-income households who received free prescriptions were less likely to be hospitalised and spent fewer days in hospital than similar families who paid a fee and ease the cost-of-living crisis for everyone.

Free access to medicine will also relieve pressure on the health system. Removing the co‑payment charge will help reduce the demand on hospitals and other health services.

If you've benefited from the NZ government's free prescriptions program since it went into effect on July 1 and you want them to keep doing so and remove obstacles to health equity. Support this petition if you can.