What services do pharmacies offer?

Key points about the services pharmacies offer

  • Apart from dispensing medicines, pharmacies offer a range of services to keep you and your family well.
  • Some pharmacies provide more services than others. If you are unsure about which services your pharmacy provides, give them a call. 
  • This page provides examples of services pharmacies can provide.
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Pharmacists are qualified healthcare professionals with the clinical know-how to give you the help you need. They can assess your minor illness and recommend the right treatment, whether it’s over-the-counter medicines, a few days rest or a bit of reassurance.

Examples of minor health concerns  
  • Sore throats
  • Coughs, colds and flu
  • Tummy troubles
  • Aches and pains
  • Red eyes, conjunctivitis
  • Thrush
  • Migraine
  • Haemorrhoids
  • Sleeping problems
  • Athlete’s foot
  • Mouth ulcers
  • Constipation and diarrhoea
  • Earache
  • Allergies
  • First aid and wound care
  • Warts

Most pharmacies can help you with the following:

Some pharmacies may also be able to help you with the following:

COVID-19 – How your pharmacy can help you

Remember not to enter pharmacies if you have symptoms, or suspect you have been exposed to COVID-19. We encourage you to wear a face mask when visiting pharmacies.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, your pharmacy can help you with the following:

  • Getting your medicines: If you have problems picking up your medicine from your pharmacy, speak to your pharmacist. Someone else (family/whānau member, friend or carer) may be able to visit the pharmacy to collect your medicines for you, or ask your pharmacy if they can deliver to your home.
  • Managing your COVID symptoms: If you are unwell with COVID symptoms, and require medications for fever, aches, cough, diarrhoea and runny nose, call your pharmacy. Your pharmacist can recommend medicines that are suitable for you, especially if you are taking medicines to treat other conditions. Some pharmacies can supply antiviral medicines without a prescription.
  • Getting your COVID vaccinations: You and your whānau can get COVID vaccinations, including your booster, from your pharmacy. Book your vaccine online(external link) or find a walk-in pharmacy.  
  • Rapid antigen testing: Some pharmacies are offering supervised rapid antigen testing (RAT) to help detect COVID-19. To find a pharmacy offering RAT services, check Healthpoint(external link).

Always be kind to the pharmacy staff. It can be frustrating that sometimes waiting times are longer than they used to be, but please be kind and respectful.  

  • Your pharmacist can also show you how to use devices such as asthma inhalers, diabetes blood test kits, blood pressure machines and air humidifiers.
  • Many pharmacies have a range of medical equipment available for hire, including crutches, vaporisers, nebulisers, walkers and even wheelchairs.

New Zealand pharmacists who have completed an approved vaccinator training course can administer a variety of vaccines including the:

  • COVID-19 vaccine
  • flu vaccine
  • HPV (human papillomavirus vaccine)
  • measles, mumps and rubella vaccine
  • whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine
  • meningococcal vaccine
  • shingles vaccine. 

From 1 April 2024 pharmacists will be funded to provide the following vaccines to children aged three and under:

  • diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio
  • hepatitis B 
  • Haemophilus influenzae type B
  • pneumococcal (PCV13) conjugate
  • rotavirus oral
  • varicella [chickenpox vaccine].

Always call your pharmacy ahead of time to find out if they offer this service, the cost and whether you need to make an appointment.

Many pharmacies offer a service where your medicines can be packaged into blister packs or rolls of sachets. This type of packaging can help you to take all the right medicine at the right time. It can also make it easier to see if you have missed a dose or are running out. Blister packing is also useful if you are travelling, as it avoids having to take multiple containers. Your medicines can be supplied weekly, fortnightly or monthly depending on your needs.

If you have leftover medicines, take them to your pharmacy for safe disposal. Don't keep old medicines because you think you may need them in the future. This is one way to avoid accidental ingestion, either by yourself or others, including children. Don't throw medicines in the rubbish or flush them down the toilet. This can harm the environment. For more information talk to your local pharmacist.

Read more about returning expired or unused medicines to your pharmacy

In this video, Healthify He Puna Waiora consumer representative and cultural advisor Merle Samuels shares tips for managing your medicines. 

(Healthify He Puna Waiora, NZ, 2020)

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Credits: Healthify He Puna Waiora editorial team. Healthify is brought to you by Health Navigator Charitable Trust.

Reviewed by: Alastair Shum BPharm, MPS Senior Advisory Pharmacist, Pharmacy Guild of New Zealand (Inc)

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