Prescribing

Dietitians who are authorised to be a Dietitian Prescriber can be found on the Register.

Dietitian prescribers are able to prescribe and authorise subsidised dispensing of some specific products, in addition to all Special Foods. The Medicines (Designated Prescriber—Dietitians) Regulations 2015 are located here.

The list of vitamins, minerals and related products that dietitians can prescribe can be found HERE

Changes include:

Thiamine hydrochloride (B1) tab 50mg Max health delisted 1 April 2023
Calcium – calcium carbonate oral liquid 1,250mg (0.5mg elemental per 5ml), Roxane removed from the prescribing list as calcium supplement and only listed for use as a phosphate binding agent
Fluoride – sodium fluoride PEM, delisted 1 March 2023 and no alternative on the schedule
Pancreatic Cap pancreatin 175mg Panzytrat to be delisted 1 June 2023

Dietitians must have undertaken the Dietitian Prescriber Course which includes a summative assessment, before they can be endorsed on his/her practising certificate and endorsed on the Board’s Register.

Since 2014, graduates with the prescribed Post Graduate Degree from any of the three New Zealand Accredited Universities meet the requirements for endorsement and are not required to undertake the Dietitian Prescriber Course, unless they did not undertake this Module prior to graduation.

Dietitian Prescribers are monitored during the year and have approved supervisors. Please familiarise yourself with the Prescriber Policy and make sure that you nominate your prescribing supervisor through the Practitioners Portal.

If a Dietitian Prescriber changes supervisor they must immediately arrange for a new prescribing supervisor to Sign On, select them from the drop down under My Supervision on the Practitioners Portal.

An Annual Prescribing Update is required to be undertaken – Dietitian Prescribers can find this on the Dietitians Board MOODLE platform.

Taking Leave as a Dietitian Prescriber

Dietitian Prescribers should undertake the MOODLE annual prescribing update course every year, even when Non-Practising. This maintains their endorsement and ensures a smooth return to prescribing practice.

Practitioners taking leave will also need to retain a prescribing supervisor whilst Non-Practising, which will aid the completion of the annual update course.