Once regulated, they must meet standards involving training, supervision, professional development
Health Minister Simeon Brown has announced that physician associates – overseas-trained health professionals who can evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients under a doctor’s supervision – will be a regulated profession under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003.
Once regulated, physician associates will need to comply with standards that are clear and appropriate for New Zealand’s health system and will specifically need to meet standards involving training, supervision, and ongoing professional development, Brown said in a news release.
Brown noted that physician associates may work in general practice, hospitals, and various other health settings in the country. They help doctors perform their clinical and administrative tasks and ensure they meet patient needs.
Brown said in the news release that around 50 physician associates are working across New Zealand at present. Brown expects that number to rise in the coming years.
Brown emphasised that the regulation of physician associates is part of the government’s commitment to promoting patient safety and delivering high-quality care.
“Ensuring that all New Zealanders have access to timely, quality healthcare is a priority for the Government,” Brown said in the news release.
The government shared that it previously made announcements about measures aiming to enable more health professionals to prescribe the medicines needed by their patients and to adjust regulations to assist podiatrists in prescribing medicines related to their role.
Parliament recently passed the Medicines Amendment Bill at first reading. This legislation introduces amendments to the Medicines Act 1981 seeking to equip nurse practitioners with greater prescribing rights and increase patients’ access to medicines.
David Seymour, associate health minister, welcomed the passage of the legislation.
“Faster access to medicines has always been a priority of mine,” Seymour said. “For many New Zealanders, pharmaceuticals are life or death, or the difference between a life of pain and suffering or living freely.”
The bill provides for the ‘Rule of Two,’ which permits the approval of medicines in under 30 days if the product has already secured approval from at least two recognised overseas jurisdictions.
“This change will increase access to medicines for Kiwis by introducing a streamlined verification pathway for medicines,” Seymour said. “People will access new treatments more quickly.”
