Pharmacists Kairongoā
Pharmacists dispense medicines that your healthcare provider has prescribed. They also provide information and advice about medicines and your health.
What pharmacists do
Pharmacists are experts in medicines. They can answer your questions about:
- what medicines are for
- when is the right time to take medicines
- what medicines to avoid
- what medicines interact with other medicines
- what effects you can expect from medicines.
Most pharmacies have a space if you want to discuss your health issues in private.
Pharmacists also dispense medicines. Dispensing involves:
- safely preparing the medicines
- counting the doses
- labelling the containers
- giving people advice about the medicines and making sure they understand the advice.
A pharmacist can also show you how to use devices such as asthma inhalers, diabetes blood test kits and blood pressure machines.
With your permission, pharmacists can also access your shared health records to help them make sure your medicines are right for you.
Pharmacist-only medicines
Some medicines are pharmacist-only medicines (or restricted medicines). This means that:
- a pharmacist can supply them without a prescription
- you can only buy these medicines after speaking to a pharmacist — the pharmacist needs to ask you questions to make sure the medicine is safe for you and to check you are taking it for the right condition.
Pharmacist-only medicines include emergency contraceptives and some pain relief.
Medicine reviews
Pharmacists can also provide medicine reviews and help you with managing your medicines. You may be able to get a medicine review with your local pharmacist if you:
- have trouble remembering to take your medicines
- have 2 or more long-term conditions (such as asthma and diabetes).
Ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider if you are eligible for this service.
Finding a pharmacist
There is a pharmacist available at every community pharmacy and hospital pharmacy.
Pharmacists must be registered with the New Zealand Pharmacy Council and hold an annual practising certificate.
Ngā Kaitiaki o Te Puna Rongoā o Aotearoa | Māori Pharmacists Association (MPA) provides a freephone line to answer questions kaumātua or whānauhave about their medicines — phone 0800 664 688. Māori patients can call from anywhere across Aotearoa and their call will be returned within 24 hours by a Māori pharmacist.
If you have any concerns about the professional service you receive from a pharmacist, you can make a complaint to the New Zealand Pharmacy Council.
Make a complaint or raise a concern about a pharmacist — Pharmacy Council
Community pharmacies must display a pharmacy licence.
Cost of seeing a pharmacist
There is usually no charge for health advice from a pharmacist.