The Pharmacy Guild of New Zealand (Inc)

13/11/2025

Yesterday, we met with Simeon Brown MP, continuing our great relationship. We thanked the Minister for his help in mitigating 12-month prescription impacts for community pharmacy and discussed developing a sustainable funding model for 2026 and our concerns about proposed pharmacy ownership changes. We look forward to ongoing engagement on these issues.

12/11/2025

𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗽𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀!
After months of work by the Guild, HNZ has agreed to funding changes ensuring community pharmacies won’t be negatively financially impacted by 12-month prescriptions.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗽𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝟭𝟮-𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

A huge thank you to members for your ongoing support while we got this over the line.

Read more in our media release below.

The Pharmacy Guild of New Zealand (the Guild) is delighted that Health New Zealand (HNZ) has now agreed to funding changes to fully mitigate the financial impact of 12-month prescriptions for community pharmacy, following months of work by the Guild to resolve this for our members.

12/11/2025

HNZ has developed a 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹𝗸𝗶𝘁 – available at https://bit.ly/measles-toolkit – containing downloadable resources on measles, the MMR vaccine, posters, social media tiles, screening tools, key messages and useful links. We encourage pharmacies to use the toolkit, as being prepared will help protect your staff and customers.

Also check out today’s e-newsletter, Guild InTouch for 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 of the funded MMR vaccine as part of the public health response.

05/11/2025

𝗚𝗼𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀? 𝗪𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸! Help us make Guild updates more relevant and useful by answering ten quick, anonymous questions. It only takes five minutes to complete and helps shape how we communicate with you. See yesterday’s edition of Guild InTouch for the survey link.

04/11/2025

3-9 November is 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸. Here are four ways you can be a this
1. Inform patients of potential side effects
2. Show them how and where to report side effects
3. Remind them of the dosage instructions
4. Report side effects yourself

02/11/2025

The inaugural 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 is being held this week, from 3-7 November. It aims to create awareness and promote the uptake and value of the MMR vaccine to protect people of all ages against measles. We encourage members to participate and promote their MMR vaccination service and continue protecting their communities against measles.

It’s Measles Immunisation Week! 🛡️

Measles is highly contagious - but the good thing is it’s also preventable. This week is all about making sure our communities are protected.

✅ The MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella) is free for anyone under 18 and for those eligible for free healthcare. Two doses of the MMR vaccine provide 99% of people with protection against measles.

📍 Drop-in clinics are running in many places across the country - no appointment needed.

📍 Many pharmacists and GP clinics offer MMR immunisation.

👶 Not sure if your child is immunised? Now’s the time to check.

📲 Visit info.health.nz/immunisations/immunisation-clinics for local drop-in clinics near you. Note that not every part of NZ has drop-in clinics running, but lots of pharmacies are providing MMR.

📲 Visit healthpoint.co.nz for MMR providers around the country, including pharmacies.

📲 Book a vaccine online at: info.health.nz/bookavaccine

31/10/2025

To help members stay informed and make it easier to find what you are looking for, we have created new sections on our website.

All information and documents related to 12-month prescriptions, NAAR and pharmacy ownership have been moved to a separate webpage for each topic, found under www.pgnz.org.nz/sector-advocacy. We have also created a key info summary document for each topic, pinned at the top of the page. Let us know what else you would find helpful.

29/10/2025

Today is 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆. Stroke is New Zealand’s second leading cause of death but up to 80% are preventable.

Every day, community pharmacists help reduce stroke risk and support recovery through blood pressure checks, medicine reviews, healthy lifestyle advice, and by teaching people to act FAST when stroke signs appear. Thank you for your care and expertise.

Access free F.A.S.T. training and workplace toolkits at www.stroke.org.nz.

24/10/2025

Guild President Kesh Naidoo-Rauf hosted Health Minister Simeon Brown MP at her pharmacy this afternoon. She also took the opportunity to raise key sector issues – 12-month prescriptions impacts and proposed pharmacy ownership changes.

22/10/2025

Congratulations to Guild member 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝘃𝗻𝗮𝗻 from Sean Shivnan Pharmacy, named Pharmacist of the Year and Guild partner 𝗿𝗲𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲, recognised as Supplier of the Year, at the 2025 Vantage conference. It’s fantastic to see such commitment and innovation being recognised – huge congratulations to Sean and the reCare team! 🌟

Sean Shivnan, owner of Sean Shivnan Pharmacy in Gisborne, was named Pharmacist of the Year and reCare won Supplier of the Year at the Vantage 2025 Conference
https://www.pharmacytoday.co.nz/article/vantage-conference-winners-surprised-and-thrilled

20/10/2025

𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘆! It’s a day to recognise, appreciate, and celebrate the vital contributions that pharmacy technicians make every single day. Thank you for all you do for community pharmacy - your work is essential and your role deserves the spotlight!