12 Month Prescriptions

From Feb 1st 2026, some prescriptions may be valid for up to 12 months.

Who might be eligible?
You may be eligible if:

• Your condition and medication dose have been stable for 6 months
• You don’t need regular monitoring (like blood tests or blood pressure checks)
• The medicine is approved for 12-month prescribing
• You agree to a yearly in-person review to check that the medicine is still suitable

What’s not included?
Some prescriptions won’t be eligible for the 12-month option, including:

• Controlled medicines (e.g. opioids, stimulants, ADHD medications) or medicines taken only as needed
• Conditions or medications that require monitoring within 12 months
• If your condition or medication dose has changed in the past 6 months

The final decision on whether a 12-month script is safe and appropriate rests with the prescribing clinician.

The change in prescribing rules also means scripts could be extended to six months, which may be a safer option than 12 months for some people.

What’s not changing?

You will still collect three months of medication at the pharmacy, with repeats if the prescription is for 6 months or longer. You will not be able to collect 12 months of medication at once, even if you have a 12-month script.

Extended Prescription Appointments

To check if a 12-month script is safe for you, please book a 30-minute in-person appointment with your GP.

For all extended prescription reviews (6-monthly or 12-monthly), a 30-minute in-person appointment is required.

The cost of these appointments can be up to $150.00.