Free Prescriptions

Get free prescriptions at your local Unichem Pharmacy

Prescription charges

From 1 July 2024, the government prescription co-payment is back. People will have to pay the standard $5 prescription charge, with exemptions for people:

• aged 13 years or under

• holding a Community Services Card (CSC) holder, or a dependent child of a CSC holder

• aged 65 years or over

• holding a Prescription Subsidy Card (PSC).

This applies to every medicine on new prescriptions, but will not apply to repeat supplies on the same prescription. 

Prescriptions from specialists and non-publicly funded prescribers will still attract a:

• $15 co-payment for adults 18 years and older

• $10 co-payment for people aged 14 to 17 years old. 

This is reduced to $5 with a High Use Health Card, or an oral contraceptive prescribed by a private specialist. It will be free if a person holds a Community Services Card.

All prescriptions with either a $15, $10 or $5 co-payment will count towards the 20 prescription items a patient or family collect in a year. Once a person or family reach 20 paid prescription co-payments in a year, they can get a Prescription Subsidy Card. This means they will not have to pay any more prescription charges until the next 1 February. 

Free care + advice 

Your community pharmacy offers so much more than prescriptions.

Unichem Pharmacies proudly offer free professional health, wellness and beauty care and advice.

Pop in and talk to yur local Unichem Pharmacist about managing health conditions, getting the most out of your medicine and finding the right products for you.

Your local pharmacy 

With a network of more than 250 pharmacies throughout New Zealand, you’ll find the professional health, beauty and wellness care and advice you need.

We stock high-quality natural health products, over-the-counter medication and beauty essentials. We also offer a range of healthcare services, including:

• Coeliac disease testing

• Blood pressure checks

• Vaccinations

• Bowel health screening

• Medicine management

Yes, you'll enjoy 1 Living Reward point for every prescription item*. Terms and conditions apply.

Additionally, anything you buy alongside your free prescription may be eligible, which means you’ll enjoy one point for every $1 you spend with Living Rewards !

Free Prescriptions Terms & Conditions:

1. Charges relating to partially funded or unfunded medicine prescriptions may apply.

2. Prescription co-payments remain for prescriptions from unapproved prescribers (e.g., private specialists and private dentists)

3. Living Rewards Points: 

• One Living Rewards point will be allocated per prescription item on the initial prescription only.

• Living Rewards points are not available on repeat prescriptions.

To earn points members must either present their Living Rewards card or provide an email address or mobile number at time of purchase for points to be allocated to their membership profile