Travels to NZ

[scwilson1]

Hi All,

I could really use some of your wise knowledge if possible!

I'm due to go on a 6 month sabbatical from january and trying to figure out the best way to deal with my prescriptions and storage. I am a type 1 diabetic taking novo rapid, lanctus and metformin and also have an underachieve thyroid so on quite a bit of thyroxine. I've only ever travelled as long as 6 weeks with diabetes even though I have had it for the last 10/11 years.

Anyway... background story over... I plan to take 3 months worth of prescription with me around central and south america (although this may not actually fit in my backpack as I'm going solo so unable to split the contents with a fellow traveller) and then when I get to new zealand I will aim to replenish stocks with a further 3 months prescription.

That said, I have no idea how the new zealand medical system works. Do we get free prescriptions as UK citizens with long term medical conditions and I just need to pay for a private medical appointment OR will I have to fork out a fortune for 3 months work of medication?

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. As you can imagine, it's stressing me out slightly.

Sophie
🙂

 

[Copepod]

Welcome to the forum, @scwilson1. Latin America and New Zealand are two of my favourite regions, so I hope you have a great trip. I know it's not recommended, but not changing lancets and needles every time means caryying far less bulk and weight.
These 2 webpages should cover your needs:
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/new-zealand/health
www.health.govt.nz/NZ health system/Eligibility for public health services

 

[scwilson1]

Hi @Copepod 🙂

Thanks for replying to this! I actually looked as those sites yesterday and didn't specifically state anything apart from saying if you are a uk citizen you might warrant part subsidised medical care. I couldn't specifically find whether i'd have to pay for prescriptions or how much this would be :/

Unless I am being blind that is!

 

[Northerner]

Hi @Copepod 🙂

Thanks for replying to this! I actually looked as those sites yesterday and didn't specifically state anything apart from saying if you are a uk citizen you might warrant part subsidised medical care. I couldn't specifically find whether i'd have to pay for prescriptions or how much this would be :/

Unless I am being blind that is!

I wonder if you can find out what you need to know via this site?

http://www.health.govt.nz/new-zeala...-health-services/reciprocal-health-agreements