Changes to prescriptions
Patients are starting to see advertisements and news coverage about national changes to the prescription renewal process, so we want to help you understand what’s coming on 1 February 2026 and how it may impact your medications.
Currently, prescriptions for most medicines are limited to a maximum duration of 3 months, which means people who have stable, long-term conditions need to regularly see their clinician to continue accessing their medications. At your first medication review following the legislation change, the clinician will discuss your eligibility to move to 12-month prescriptions and talk with you about whether this is a good idea in your individual case. You may be eligible to go to 12-month scripts if:
Your condition and medication dose have been stable for at least 6 months
You don’t need regular monitoring like blood tests or blood pressure checks
The medicine is approved for 12-month prescribing
You agree to a yearly in-person review to check the medicine is still suitable.
Some prescriptions will not be eligible for 12-month instalments, such as controlled medications or those that require monitoring. The clinician may also decide that it’s important in your individual case to continue to see you more regularly, especially if your health condition is complex or you are on multiple medications. Please understand that your health and safety will be at the centre of any decision made about your care.
The shift to 12-month prescriptions is expected to mostly affect people on long-term medicines like asthma inhalers, diabetes medicines, and blood pressure tablets. It will also apply to oral contraceptives. You will still collect medicines in 3-month instalments from the same pharmacy but will only need to pay a co-payment fee (e.g. $5) on the first collection. You will not be able to collect 12 months’ worth of your medication at once, even with a 12-month prescription.
We’re here to answer any questions you may have and will be sure to keep you updated as we get closer to the changeover in February. And just a final reminder that you won’t be eligible for longer prescriptions until you have had your next scheduled medication review following 1 February.
