53222 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Associate Minister of Health

53222 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Associate Minister of Health: What initiatives, if any, are in place to reduce medicine wastage?

Hon David Seymour: I am advised that Pharmac implements a range of initiatives aimed at reducing medicine wastage across the health system. These include: • Review of pack sizes: Pharmac seeks expert clinical input through the Tender Clinical Advisory Committee. This committee assesses the appropriateness of medicine packaging, including pack size and tablet quantity, to ensure alignment with clinical use and to minimise excess supply. • Dispensing rules within the Pharmaceutical Schedule: Pharmacists are required to dispense medicines in whole pack sizes where appropriate, helping to reduce partial pack wastage. • Monthly dispensing protocols: For medicines where wastage is more likely, monthly dispensing is encouraged to avoid accumulation of unused medicines. • Flexible dispensing provisions: Pharmac’s rules allow for smaller quantities to be dispensed in specific circumstances, such as when a patient is trialling a new medicine. This flexibility helps prevent surplus and supports safer prescribing practices.