A Government plan to extend repeat prescription terms to 12 months could follow international trends.

The current supply limit is generally three months - possibly longer for contraceptives and overseas travel. 

The Ministry of Health opened consultation last year.

General Practice New Zealand chair, Doctor Bryan Betty, says Australia, the US and the UK have already made similar moves.

"There were similar sorts of restrictions on prescribing there, but all of those countries have started to loosen this up in terms of flexibility." 

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