NURSE prescribers in New Zealand are now able to initiate and renew a special authority for medicines they are authorised to prescribe, under new prescribing rules which went into effect this month.
The change means they will be able to apply, on behalf of their patient, for a government subsidy on prescription medicines, according to NZ's PHARMAC regulatory agency.
"Patients won't necessarily need to wait for their GP or specialist doctor to sign off on much-needed prescriptions for these medicines," said NZ Ministry of Health Chief Nursing Officer, Lorraine Hetaraka.
"Being able to start patients on medicines straight away will make better use of nurse prescribers' expertise and time."
The Ministry updated the relevant IT systems to permit nurse prescribers to apply for a Special Authority, while PHARMAC updated the NZ Pharmaceutical Schedule rules to allow nurse prescribers to apply for the medicines.
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