Hi John,

I just wanted to make sure that you’d heard the good news – we’re removing the $5 co-payment for prescription medicines from 1 July, to help New Zealanders with health costs.

When I was a doctor, I found it incredibly frustrating that the co-payment stopped some of my patients from getting the medicines they needed to stay well and stay out of hospital.

The previous National-led Government increased the co-payment from $3 to $5 – making prescription medicine more out of reach for many in our community.

Our decision to scrap the $5 charge will mean that around three million Kiwis will no longer have to worry about the costs of collecting their medication. This will make a real difference for households, particularly those who have multiple prescriptions to fill on a regular basis.

Free access to medicine will also help to relieve pressure on the health system, as there will be less demand on hospitals and other health services. So, it’s a win-win.

It’s disappointing that the National Party have said they’d bring back $5 prescription fees for many Kiwis. They know that the charge is a real barrier to many New Zealanders getting the medicine they need to stay well. 

At a time when global inflation is pushing up costs and Kiwi households are looking hard at their budgets, we’re doing what we can to make things a bit easier – and keep people healthy. 

If you know someone who will benefit from free prescriptions, make sure to share this email with them. National has chosen tax cuts for the wealthy over relief for hard working Kiwis. It’s not right.

You can also learn more about how we’re supporting households with the cost of living here.

Ayesha