Advocacy wins

Over the last decade, the Guild has delivered key wins for community pharmacies through objective analysis, expert advice and working closely with decision makers. Our approach is fair, consistent, and solutions focused. Below is a summary of our key achievements.​

$100 million ICPSA turnaround

We played the lead role in delivering the evergreen ICPSA pharmacy contract. DHBs

originally proposed removing long term condition funding and splitting dispensing

into ‘supply’ and ‘advice’ – risking major income loss. We reversed this through strong sector leadership, securing better terms worth over $100 million each year (ongoing).

Covid-19 sector leadership and pricing

Despite early resistance from officials, we ensured pharmacies became key Covid-19

service providers during the pandemic. Our work with government and officials meant

community pharmacies led Covid-19 vaccination delivery, the supply of rapid antigen tests and antiviral services, all sustainably priced at rates negotiated by the Guild.

Removing the $5 prescription charge

After five years of strong advocacy, we successfully worked with the Labour-led

government to remove the $5 patient co-payment – our role was acknowledged by

the Minister of Health. In 2024, the National-led government introduced a targeted

charge, supported by our advice, an improvement on the previous universal charge.

Protecting pharmacist ownership of pharmacies

In 2016, the National-led government proposed full deregulation of pharmacy

ownership, allowing anyone to own a pharmacy. Our policy work and strong advocacy helped prevent this. In 2023, the Therapeutic Products Act was passed, preserving majority pharmacist ownership and effective control, in line with the Medicines Act.

Tackling workforce shortages

Our analysis, included in the 2024 Health NZ Workforce Plan, drew attention to the

critical shortage of pharmacists and technicians, and highlighted the need to address pay parity – work started in 2020 based on our advocacy. We also had pharmacists added to the skilled migrants list and included in the Voluntary Bonding Scheme.

Securing better funding and more services

Since 2018, we have successfully advocated for annual cost-of-living increases under

the ICPSA. Combined with rising activity levels and expanded services, including

enabling the full range of immunisations, has seen annual funding grow from $418

million in 2015/16 to over $840 million in 2025/26.