The legislation will give the health minister the power to approve, reject or transfer medication applications

A popular weight-loss drug used by celebrities overseas has been approved by New Zealand’s medicine regulatory body, with its producer hoping to make it accessible “as soon as possible”.

The Medical Council is expected to release new guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence before the end of the year, according to board member Stephen Child.

Some patients and advocacy groups see Pharmac as "slow to respond", "highly defensive" and "lacking respect" for them, according to an independent report released by the drug-funding agency today.

Associate Health Minister David Seymour has today welcomed the publication of Pharmac’s Consumer Engagement Workshop Report.

The government has announced plans to lower the age for free bowel cancer screening for all New Zealanders by "redirecting" money previously set aside to lower the age for Māori and Pacific people.

The body representing New Zealand natural product manufacturers says the lack of modern regulation for the sector means New Zealand companies continue to struggle to compete on the world stage.

The Government has recently announced its plan to modernise the regulation of medicines and medical devices by replacing the Medicines Act 1981 with a new Medical Products Bill (Bill). It has also decided that natural health products would be regulated under a standalone bill, yet to be developed.

New Zealand is prescribing up to seven times more puberty blockers to young transgender patients than other similar countries, new analysis shows.