File photo: Getty ImagesTwelve-month prescriptions for long-term medications take effect from today. Patients can now get a script for up to 12 months of medication - up from three - with their doctor's permission. People with 12-month prescriptions will still need to collect their medication every three months, so the changes will not reduce their overall number of visits. "There has been a decline in the number of pharmacies in New Zealand, and there's a serious workforce issue. "Be kind to your pharmacy if you're popping in to talk about a 12-month script and what to expect, because we're all under a lot of pressure at the moment."
