Kia ora koutou,

This update provides a summary of the planned NZePS Broker API change scheduled for Wednesday, 22 October 2025, 8:00pm to 11:00pm.

Important: During this time, the NZePS Broker API will be unavailable. However, prescribing and dispensing systems will continue to function. Any prescriptions or dispensing made during the outage will be reinstated once the change is completed.

Please note that NZePS MDR and Data Feeder services will not be affected and will continue to operate as normal.

What’s Changing:

Changes – Prescription Images Enhancement

Clinical Systems will be able to re-upload an image for an Image Prescription (SCID).  All retrievals will return the latest uploaded version of an image.

This will allow support for the following workflows.

• For ‘Referred’ Prescriptions, if a pharmacy notices an error, they can make the required changes after consultation with the prescriber and upload a ‘new version’ of the prescription image.
• For ‘Phoned’ or ‘Blister pack’ Prescriptions, prescribing systems can make the required amendments and upload a new version of the prescription image.
• For Pharmacies to upload the ‘audit version’ of a prescription image after the dispense event (or repeat).
• Allow for paperless capture of pharmacy dispensing annotations on the prescription image.

Version 1.9 of the HIE - NZePS REST API Implementation Guide includes implementation details related to this capability. [ please refer to huddle]

Action you need to take

Vendors of PMS and Pharmacy Systems

• Notify your users of the planned outage and what they should do during this outage and notify your users that the service has been restored when we've notified you. We have provided you with guidance below for prescribers and pharmacies that you can use.
• For General Practice PMS systems that use a hub model for connecting with the NZePS Broker, you must turn off your service at or slightly before 7:55pm, Wednesday 22nd October 2025, and turn it back on after the change completed and the service made available again (at 11:05pm).
• Be aware that when requesting a prescription for view via the HIE103 (request for view) message type, that if the prescription was created more than one year ago the response will indicate that the prescription does not exist (BUS002 error code). Prior to this archival process the message would have been returned for view in its entirety. All other messages including requests for updates and locks will continue to return the standard expired prescription error message.

Prescribers

• Can continue to generate electronic prescriptions (including Signature Exempt prescriptions) for non-controlled drugs and Class C controlled drugs that are exempt or partially exempt.  For Class B and C controlled drugs that are not exempt or partially exempt, prescribers continue to print, physically sign and send the signed prescription to the pharmacy before it can be dispensed. Other option, encourage emailing the  prescription direct to pharmacies, not the patient, otherwise print to paper and wet ink sign.

 
Pharmacies

• Should continue to use the barcode at the point of dispensing (i.e. scan or manually enter the barcode details) to ensure these scripts can be matched when the NZePS returns to normal operation after the outage. Then continue to dispense manually as per Advisory Notice 1.
• If the barcode is used at the point of dispensing and all current Controlled Drug rules and regulations are met, pharmacy does not have to follow up with a triplicate form for Class B controlled drugs as long as you have an NZePS prescription that is physically signed by the prescriber. These scripts can be matched when the NZePS returns to normal operation after the outage.
• The original is also not required for Signature Exempt prescriptions for non-controlled drugs or Class C exempt or partially exempt controlled drugs.

Ngā mihi nui

NZePS Team

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