Ministry of Health

The Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Regulations 2019 (the Regulations) set the minimum quality standard that medicinal cannabis products and ingredients must meet before they can be supplied in New Zealand. Importers, manufacturers, and suppliers must apply for assessment and provide evidence to the Medicinal Cannabis Agency to verify that their products meet the minimum quality standard. Bloom Blue Dream has been verified as meeting the minimum quality standard. White S

Kia ora koutou As we approach the end of the year, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the significant work happening across the country to support the mental health and wellbeing of our communities. This time of year can bring both opportunities for rest and connection, and additional challenges for some people, whānau and communities. Our role at the Ministry of Health supports and strengthens the work happening across the health system. The advice we provide and the fra

Kia ora koutou As we approach the end of the 2025, I want to acknowledge the dedicated and hard-working health workforce, who have worked tirelessly across the country to improve health outcomes for all New Zealanders. While our health system faces challenges, good progress has been made this year in a range of areas that are key to improving New Zealanders' health outcomes. This week’s reporting against health targets highlights some of this progress. Key improvements for

Welcome to the fortnightly Health Improvement and Innovation Digest. The Digest has links to key evidence of interest, with access to new content arranged by topic. You can forward this newsletter to others who may be interested in receiving it. They can register and subscribe here . You can also access other recent issues of the digest here. If you have any queries, please email us at  library@health.govt.nz . Thank you for reading the Health Improvement and Innovation Diges

From 19 December 2025, new prescriptions for GnRH analogues for the purpose of puberty suppression for children or adolescents with gender incongruence or gender dysphoria will no longer be permitted for patients who have not been prescribed a GnRH analogue previously.   This follows Government regulations introduced on 17 November 2025. The new regulations are published online here: Medicines (Restriction on Prescribing Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone Analogues) Amendment Reg

Issue 334 - 27 November 2025 Welcome to the fortnightly Health Improvement and Innovation Digest. The Digest has links to key evidence of interest, with access to new content arranged by topic. You can forward this newsletter to others who may be interested in receiving it. They can register and subscribe here . You can also access other recent issues of the digest here. If you have any queries, please email us at  library@health.govt.nz Article Access For articles that aren'

Over the last few months, I have met with people across the health sector, spoken at conferences and attended stakeholder meetings. One thing that has struck me - other than the dedication of our health professionals - is that people are unclear on the role of the Ministry of Health, and what we are mandated to do. The Ministry of Health is the Government’s lead adviser on health, ensuring the health system delivers for the current and future needs of all New Zealanders. Audr

Issue 333 - 13 November 2025 Welcome to the fortnightly Health Improvement and Innovation Digest. The Digest has links to key evidence of interest, with access to new content arranged by topic. You can forward this newsletter to others who may be interested in receiving it. They can register and subscribe here . You can also access other recent issues of the digest here. If you have any queries, please email us at  library@health.govt.nz . Article Access For articles that are

Issue 332 - 30 October 2025 Welcome to the fortnightly Health Improvement and Innovation Digest. The Digest has links to key evidence of interest, with access to new content arranged by topic. You can forward this newsletter to others who may be interested in receiving it. They can register and subscribe here . You can also access other recent issues of the digest here. If you have any queries, please email us at  library@health.govt.nz . Article Access For articles that aren

Welcome to the latest update from the Ministry of Health | Manatū Hauora on the regulation of medicines, medical devices and natural health products.   This newsletter includes updates on the following:  ·         Important policy decisions on the Medical Products Bill   ·         Community pharmacy ownership  ·         Advertising   ·         Statutory timeframes  ·         Offences and penalties  ·         Medical products regulator  ·         Medical products exports  ·   

Welcome to the latest update from the Ministry of Health | Manatū Hauora on the regulation of medicines, medical devices and natural health products.   This newsletter includes updates on the following:  Important policy decisions on the Medical Products Bill   Community pharmacy ownership  Advertising   Statutory timeframes  Offences and penalties  Medical products regulator  Medical products exports  Supporting innovation under the Medical Products Bill  Natural health prod

Medicinal cannabis products that meet the minimum quality standard The Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Regulations 2019 (the Regulations) set the minimum quality standard that medicinal cannabis products and ingredients must meet before they can be supplied in New Zealand. Importers, manufacturers, and suppliers must apply for assessment and provide evidence to the Medicinal Cannabis Agency to verify that their products meet the minimum quality standard. Helius NZ Maya T

Kia ora koutou Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston has announced that the Government has accepted all 14 of the recommendations made by the review by Dame Karen Poutasi in 2022. The Government response is focused on strengthening the children’s system, and improving safeguards, to protect against and better respond to child harm.   Child and youth ministers will oversee implementation of the integrated government response and drive work at pace to deliver on all 14

Medicinal cannabis products that meet the minimum quality standard The Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Regulations 2019 (the...

Issue 330 - 2 October 2025 Welcome to the fortnightly Health Improvement and Innovation Digest. The Digest has links to key evidence of...

The timeframe for developing Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy has been extended to ensure alignment with proposed law changes Last...

Issue 329 - 18 September 2025 Welcome to the fortnightly Health Improvement and Innovation Digest. The Digest has links to key evidence...

The Ministry of Health wants to hear your feedback on proposed amendments to the lists of specified prescription medicines and controlled drugs for designated registered nurse prescribers in primary health and specialty teams.   The current schedule of prescription medicines came into effect in August 2024. Since then, new medicines have become available in New Zealand, to which wider access would benefit patients. The schedule needs to be amended to reflect these additional

Proposed amendments to the specified prescription medicines lists under the Medicines ( Designated Pharmacist—Prescribers ) Regulations 2013   The Ministry of Health wants to hear your feedback on the proposed amendments to the specified prescription medicines list for designated pharmacist prescribers.   The current schedule of prescription medicines came into effect in May 2022. Since then, new medicines have become available in New Zealand, to which wider access would bene

Issue 327 - 24 July 2025 Issue 328 - 21 August 2025 Welcome to the fortnightly Health Improvement and Innovation Digest. The Digest has...