From 1 February 2026, specialist general practitioners and nurse practitioners working within their scope will be able to diagnose and prescribe for adults with ADHD. Nurse practitioners in paediatric or mental health services will also be able to do this for children and adolescents.

The Ministry says the change is intended to improve access and cut wait times. Prescribing will still follow existing regulatory and clinical guidelines for controlled medicines, with safeguards in place to prevent misuse.

Implementation is voluntary. Not all GPs or nurse practitioners will offer ADHD assessment and prescribing; the expectation is that clinicians with a specific interest and competence in ADHD will take on the work. The Ministry says new services will build gradually as clinicians upskill.

Pharmac is planning for increased demand, actively managing supply and looking at alternative brands and treatments. Ongoing ADHD medicine shortages have affected patients over the past two years, and the agency’s ability to source stock will be key to how smoothly the change lands.

Until now, initial diagnosis and treatment for ADHD has largely sat with psychiatrists and paediatricians, with GPs often continuing prescribing once a plan is in place. The new settings shift some of that front-end work into primary care, particularly for adults.

For patients, the impact will depend on local availability. Some practices may offer ADHD assessment and prescribing from February; others may take longer or choose not to provide the service. The Ministry has published an information sheet with answers to common questions.