authorise registered paramedics who meet requirements for qualifications, training, and competence to be designated prescribers for the purpose of prescribing specified prescription medicines; and

(b)

provide for those qualifications, training, and competence requirements; and

(c)

prohibit registered paramedics from prescribing specified prescription medicines if they do not comply with those requirements; and

(d)

make non-compliance with those requirements an offence.

4 Interpretation

In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires,—

Act means the Medicines Act 1981

Paramedic Council means the body established by the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance (Designation of Paramedic Services as Health Profession) Order 2019

registered paramedic means a person who—

(a)

is registered with the Paramedic Council; and

(b)

holds a current practising certificate

specified prescription medicine means a prescription medicine that—

(a)

is specified for prescription by registered paramedics by notice under section 105(5A)(a) of the Act; or

(b)

belongs to a class or description of prescription medicines that are specified for prescription by registered paramedics by notice under section 105(5A)(b) of the Act.

5 Authority to prescribe specified prescription medicines

A registered paramedic may prescribe a specified prescription medicine if they comply with the requirements of regulations 6, 7, and 8.

6 Requirements for commencing to prescribe for first time

Before prescribing a specified prescription medicine for the first time, a registered paramedic must—

(a)

obtain the qualifications for registered paramedics, or for a class of registered paramedics to which the paramedic belongs, that are specified by the Paramedic Council by notice in the Gazette; and

(b)

undertake and successfully complete the training for registered paramedics, or for a class of registered paramedics to which the paramedic belongs, that is specified by the Paramedic Council by notice in the Gazette; and

(c)

demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Paramedic Council that the registered paramedic is sufficiently knowledgeable to safely prescribe specified prescription medicines; and

(d)

be authorised by the Paramedic Council to prescribe specified prescription medicines.

7 Other training to be undertaken

Before prescribing a specified prescription medicine, a registered paramedic must—

(a)

undertake and successfully complete any training for registered paramedics, or for a class of registered paramedics to which the paramedic belongs, that is specified by the Paramedic Council by notice in the Gazette; and

(b)

undertake and successfully complete that training within the period specified in the notice, or at the times specified in the notice if the training is of an ongoing nature.

8 Assessment of competence to be completed

Before prescribing a specified prescription medicine, a registered paramedic must—

(a)

successfully complete any assessment of their competence to prescribe specified prescription medicines that is specified for registered paramedics, or for a class of registered paramedics to which the paramedic belongs, by the Paramedic Council by notice in the Gazette; and

(b)

successfully complete that assessment within the period specified in the notice, or at the times specified in the notice if the assessment is to be completed at regular intervals.

9 Gazette notices

(1)

For the purposes of these regulations, a notice in the Gazette—

(a)

comes into force on the day after the date of its publication or on a later date specified in the notice; and

(b)

may provide that it expires, if not revoked earlier, at the end of a specified day.

(2)

Within 5 working days after the date of publication of a notice in the Gazette for the purposes of these regulations, and while the notice remains in force, the Paramedic Council must ensure that an up-to-date version of the notice is available—

(a)

on an internet site maintained by or on behalf of the Paramedic Council; and

(b)

at the office of the Paramedic Council during business hours, so that members of the public may—

(i)

inspect the notice free of charge; and

(ii)

obtain a copy of the notice for a reasonable fee.

10 Prohibition against prescribing specified prescription medicines

(1)

A registered paramedic must not prescribe a specified prescription medicine unless they comply with the requirements of regulations 6, 7, and 8.

(2)

A person commits an offence if they contravene this section and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $500.

Rachel Hayward,
Clerk of the Executive Council.

Explanatory note

This note is not part of the regulations but is intended to indicate their general effect.

These regulations, which come into force on 3 September 2026, permit registered paramedics to become designated prescribers. Those registered paramedics are permitted to prescribe medicines that have been notified under section 105(5A) of the Medicines Act 1981 as specified prescription medicines.

To be permitted to prescribe specified prescription medicines, registered paramedics must meet the requirements of the regulations relating to qualifications, training, and competency. The Paramedic Council may specify details of those qualification, training, and competence requirements by notice in the Gazette. A registered paramedic who does not meet those requirements is not permitted to prescribe the specified prescription medicines and commits an offence if they do. A registered paramedic who commits an offence against these regulations is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $500.

Consistency with principles of responsible regulation

The Ministry of Health provided the following documents relating to its review of this secondary legislation, and its process for developing it, for consistency with the principles of responsible regulation under the Regulatory Standards Act 2025:

a consistency accountability statement on 8 July 2026:
a summary of underpinning analysis on 8 July 2026.

Copies of those documents can be found at—

https://www.health.govt.nz/information-releases

The Ministry of Health considers that a statement from the maker under section 14(1)(b) of the Regulatory Standards Act 2025 is not required for this secondary legislation.

Issued under the authority of the Legislation Act 2019.

Date of notification in Gazette: 6 August 2026.

These regulations are administered by the Ministry of Health.

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Medicines (Designated Prescriber—Paramedics) Regulations 2026