Prescriptions

When you first arrive in New Zealand, be sure to have at least a month’s supply of any medications you need, because pharmacies here cannot dispense medicines prescribed by doctors outside New Zealand.

When you need a new prescription of your medicine, you will need to visit a GP for a prescription. Not all medicines are known by the same name in different countries, so the GP may need to provide you with the medicine by a different name. In some cases, the medicine you usually take may not be available in New Zealand, but an equivalent alternative should be available. The GP will be able to advise you about this.

Generally, you’ll pay $15 for a prescription to be dispensed, plus any additional costs for medicines that are not fully subsidised by the Government. For more information about the medicines subsidised by the Government, click here.

Pharmacies are located in most shopping centres and open normal shopping hours. 

Outside those hours, an Urgent Pharmacy can help. These are open every day, usually until 10.00pm. You’ll find them listed under “urgent pharmacy’ at www.yellow.co.nz