ECP - Information for pharmacists

Pharmacist provision of subsidised emergency contraceptive pill

From 1 December 2017, pharmacists will be able to provide funded emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) in the form of levonorgestrel 1.5 mg tablet without a prescription from a prescriber. 

 Information for community pharmacists

If you have questions about providing this service, please contact your local DHB pharmacy portfolio manager.

Q: How has the Pharmaceutical Schedule changed to make this happen?

 A: A new rule has been added to the Schedule to allow non-prescribing practitioners to supply specified funded pharmaceuticals. Non-prescribing practitioners include Quitcard providers, vaccinators and pharmacists.          

A pharmacist will be able to provide specified funded pharmaceuticals where there is a note in the Schedule that says:

Note: may be provided by a pharmacist under the non-prescribing Practitioners provisions in Part III of Section A

This note will apply from 1 December 2017, this note will apply from Friday 1 December to levonorgestrel 1.5 mg tablets.