Paramedics will soon be able to prescribe certain medicines

The government has announced paramedics will soon be able to prescribe medicines that fall within their scope of practice.

Currently, paramedics can administer certain medicines but cannot prescribe them.

Health Minister Simeon Brown said on Saturday the move would help more patients receive treatment in their homes and communities, reducing pressure on emergency departments.

The current approach was "inflexible", created "unnecessary" administration and no longer reflected the role paramedics played in delivering healthcare, he said.

"Giving paramedics the ability to prescribe medicines will enable them to provide more complete care when it is clinically appropriate, rather than transferring patients elsewhere, such as an emergency department, solely to obtain a prescription. This will be particularly beneficial for people living in rural and remote areas.

"Under the changes, suitably qualified paramedics will be able to prescribe from a specified list of medicines within their scope of practice, allowing patients to access treatment sooner and experience better continuity of care."

Training programmes would be established to support paramedics in gaining prescribing qualifications, he said.

The Ministry of Health was now consulting on the list of prescription medicines that paramedics may be authorised to prescribe.

Approved drugs may include medicines for common infections or minor conditions, routine or repeat medications for common conditions and medicines needed in urgent or community care settings.

"We are focused on building the future of our healthcare system, and enabling paramedics to prescribe medicines is an important part of that," Brown said.

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