Medicines Amendment Bill
This bill changes how new medicines can be approved for sale in New Zealand. Currently, medicines go through a full local review before they can be sold here. This bill creates a faster approval path: if a medicine has already been fully approved by two or more trusted overseas regulators, the Minister can approve it here without a full local review. The bill also makes it easier to supply medicines that are in short supply, and removes a rule that stopped prescribers from having a financial interest in pharmacies.
What this affects
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The bill creates a faster path to approve new medicines in New Zealand if they have already been approved by trusted overseas regulators, and makes it easier to access medicines that are in short supply.
the Minister may, by notice, consent to the sale, distribution, and advertising of a new medicine if the Minister is satisfied that… the new medicine has a full marketing authorisation granted by 2 or more recognised regulatory authorities
funded alternative medicine means a new medicine… that is listed in the pharmaceutical schedule by Pharmac as an alternative to a medicine that has been granted consent by the Minister… because the consented medicine is in short supply
Section 42C repealed (Restriction on authorised prescribers and delegated prescribers holding interest in pharmacies)
Progress through Parliament
Have your say
This bill is open for public submissions to the Health Committee. Anyone can tell the committee what they think, and you don’t need to be an expert. Submissions close 18 May 2025.
Bill text sourced from legislation.govt.nz (Parliamentary Counsel Office). Arapono’s summary and breakdown are drafted with AI grounded in that official text and reviewed by an Arapono editor for accuracy and neutrality before publishing. Arapono is non-partisan and takes no position on this bill.