# Pharmacists to treat more conditions

> Health company urges rule change to let pharmacists handle common conditions.
- Title: Pharmacists to treat more conditions · RNZ | Shortify
- Summary: Health company urges rule change to let pharmacists handle common conditions. Green Cross Health wants pharmacists to treat common conditions to reduce…
- Keywords: green cross health, unichem, life pharmacies, pharmacists, new zealand, healthcare, emergency departments, politics, news, treat, more, conditions
- Source: RNZ — https://rnz.co.nz/news/health/1786965/health-company-calls-for-rule-change-to-let-pharmacists-treat-common-conditions
- Author: RNZ | Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa
- Published: 2026-10-07T17:30:45+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: green cross health, unichem, life pharmacies, pharmacists, new zealand, healthcare, emergency departments, gp, politics, news
## Health company calls for rule change
Green Cross Health, owner of Unichem and Life Pharmacies, wants pharmacists to treat more common conditions to ease emergency department and GP workload.
## Pharmacists co-manage chronic conditions
Pharmacists in comparable countries already co-manage stable chronic conditions like hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol.
## Funding needed for expanded role
Funding would need to increase to cover extra work, but changes could be brought about very quickly.

> very quickly
## Pill packaging saves time
Adjusting pill packaging to match typical treatment plans would save pharmacists time by aligning supply chains with prescriptions.
## Key takeaway

Green Cross Health wants pharmacists to treat common conditions to reduce emergency department and GP workload.