Can you actually get a sick note from a pharmacy?

Getting a sick note from a pharmacy may depend on which pharmacy you ask.

"Medical certificates? Yes, we can do, if it meets the criteria. You have to have a consultation," a Northland pharmacist told RNZ's First Up.

"Pharmacies have never issued that kind of thing, that's a doctor as far as I know. We've got too much to do already, I don't know how we'd fit that into our day to be honest," an East Coast pharmacist said.

Those were just two responses from the 15 pharmacies that RNZ called - 10 of them said no, chemists can not give sick notes to customers.

But in a statement, the Ministry of Health said actually yes, they can.

"As health practitioners, pharmacists are able to certify illness. There is no regulatory restriction preventing this, nor are the sickness certificates required to be in a particular format."

But the ministry made clear there was a difference between a medical certificate, and a written note that confirmed sickness.

"A medical certificate can be provided by a medical practitioner or a nurse practitioner. A medical practitioner is a health practitioner who is, or is deemed to be, registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand as a practitioner of the profession of medicine, for example, a doctor.

"Other health practitioners such as nurses, pharmacists, and paramedics can certify illness. They may issue sick note, sometimes referred to as a sickness certificate or certification of sickness (but not a medical certificate)."

Since 2018, pharmacists have legally been allowed to certify illness under the Holidays Act.

The Ministry of Health said a sickness certificate can be given in any format - printed or hand written.

But Grant Bai, director of pharmacy software business ReCare, believed his software was the appropriate way to certify sickness.

"So we've set up a system for pharmacy to be able to do a medical certificate, and that's a nice robust platform."

The cost of a consultation and sickness certificate from the chemist cost about $30 to $40.

Pharmacy owner Andy Hou was aware of the law change. On average, his pharmacy wrote one sick note each week.

"If the awareness was out there a bit more - that it [a sick note] is available through pharmacy - I'm sure it would improve the uptake.

"Because pharmacy's greatest asset is that we are much more accessible, you can come and see us at any time, sometimes even seven days a week."

In New Zealand, the Pharmacy Council made sure pharmacists were qualified and registered. It also oversaw training programmes.

Meanwhile, the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand gave its members support and resources.

Pharmacists who did not know they could provide sickness certificates told RNZ they had not heard of the law change.

When it changed in 2018, the Pharmacy Council did not tell pharmacists.

In a statement, a spokesperson said:

"The application of this change was left to the profession to address, so we did not formally inform pharmacists at the time of the change."

The council also said it does not have a guidance document planned.

In an email, Health Minister Simeon Brown said he would like better communication.

"I would expect that professional bodies would have an interest in ensuring their members are aware of the rules so they can respond to the needs of their patients."

Australian pharmacists have a guidance document on sickness certificates. The Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand said it was considering issuing one.

In a July announcement, Pharmaceutical Society chief executive Helen Morgan Banda said the society was keen for pharmacists to have more duties.

"We are also today launching a new campaign aimed at unleashing pharmacy's potential.

"There is a growing recognition of the untapped potential within our pharmacy sector, and PSNZ is determined to see that potential realised. We want to unlock the capacity and capability of the pharmacy profession to deliver better, faster, patient care right across the health system."

And as pharmacists said, part of that capability may be unlocked with some awareness and clarity on sick notes.