These documents have been proactively released by the Ministry of Health on behalf of the Associate Minister of Health, Hon David Seymour.

These documents have been proactively released by the Ministry of Health on behalf of the Associate Minister of Health, Hon David Seymour.

New Zealanders will soon be able to receive 12-month prescriptions for their medicines, delivering savings to patients on long-term medications, Health Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Health Minister David Seymour say.

These documents have been proactively released by the Ministry of Health on behalf of the Associate Minister of Health, Hon David Seymour.

Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour, and Health Minister Simeon Brown welcome Pharmac’s decision to fund or widen access to three treatments, including for skin cancer, from 1 June 2025.

The government’s 2024 Early Childhood Education (ECE) Regulatory Sector Review included a recommendation to repeal the Health (Immunisation) Regulations 1995. The Ministry of Health provided advice on the proposed repeal through the Regulatory Impact Statement below. The Health Regulations required ECEs and primary schools to maintain registers of enrolled children’s immunisation status. These registers are no longer needed as the Aotearoa Immunisation Register has replaced their function.

Associate Health Minister David Seymour is welcoming the passing of the Medicines Amendment Bill at first reading. The bill enables the ‘Rule of Two’. allowing medicines to be approved in less than 30 days if the product has approval from two recognised overseas jurisdictions.

Immunisation is a highly successful public health intervention. It safeguards individuals, whānau and communities against a range of potentially devastating diseases, and is a critical way of preventing and controlling infectious disease outbreaks. An accessible and effective immunisation system maximises immunisation uptake and coverage, improving the health of the population and enabling pae ora – healthy futures.

From today, Plunket in Whāngarei will be offering childhood immunisations – the first of up to 27 sites nationwide, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.