Māori and Pacific, children under the age of 14 and their whānau, and Community Service Card (CSC) holders will be able to get free consultation and receive funded treatment for certain minor ailments this winter.
The minor ailments initiative is part of the Minister of Health’s 2023 Winter Plan and looks to increase access to pharmacist consultations, reduce pressure on primary and hospital services in areas recognised as consistently and persistently experiencing system pressure.
Between 12 June and end of September 2023, participating pharmacies in selected approved areas will be able to opt-in to deliver the minor ailments service, through their district Pharmacy Portfolio Managers
Who is eligible to receive the service?
A person is eligible to receive the service if they have a condition covered by MAS (set out under question 6 below), they are eligible for publicly funded health services in NZ, and they are one of the following:
- a child under 14 years of age;
- a whānau member (any age) of a child under 14 years of age, with the same symptoms;
- a holder of a Community Service Card (CSC), or the dependent child of a CSC holder and
is 14 to 17 years of age; or - a Māori and Pacific person
What conditions are covered under the Minor Ailments Service?
- Acute diarrhoea, and Dehydration (e.g. due to vomiting or diarrhoea)
- Eye infections and inflammation
- Pain and fever
- Scabies
- Headlice
- Eczema/dermatitis
- Minor skin infections
List of Approved Areas
As described in Schedule 1 of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 (relating to the former relevant DHB)
- Northland
- Waitematā
- Auckland
- Counties Manukau
- Bay of Plenty
- MidCentral
- Capital & Coast / Hutt Valley
- Canterbury
- Invercargill - The territorial local authorities of Invercargill, Southland, Gore
Will people need to book an appointment for a consultation?
Pharmacies may offer bookable appointments for MAS, however the priority is that all participating pharmacies can also accept ‘walk-in’ patients in their usual manner.
Link to FAQ's
List of approved/funded medicines
Link to book an online consultation at Chemist Warehouse
Only in certain areas
Northland As described in Schedule 1 of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 (relating to the former relevant DHB)
Waitematā
Auckland
Counties Manukau
Bay of Plenty
MidCentral
Capital & Coast / Hutt Valley
Canterbury
Invercargill The territorial local authorities of Invercargill, Southland, Gore