Pharmacists added to immigration green list

The world is currently facing a global health worker shortage, so it is vital that New Zealand’s immigration settings present a competitive offer to attract health workers to our shores

Pharmacists are among 32 health sector roles newly added to an immigration green list aimed at making New Zealand a more attractive destination for foreign workers.

Immigration minister Michael Wood and health minister Ayesha Verrall announced the change, which adds the profession to the Straight to Residence pathway through Immigration New Zealand, and makes it easier for pharmacists to gain residency.

“The world is currently facing a global health worker shortage, so it is vital that New Zealand’s immigration settings present a competitive offer to attract health workers to our shores,” Mr Wood says.

“We need more qualified people to help us deliver on our record health investments and help improve access to good healthcare in New Zealand.”

Pharmacy owners have been requesting the change for some time as a possible solution to current workforce shortages faced by the sector.

Dr Verrall says: “When I became health minister, I said workforce was one of my three key areas of priority and today’s announcement is a significant step in attracting more people to come and work in our health system.”

The professions added to the green list are:

• addiction practitioner/alcohol & drug clinician
• audiometrist
• chiropractor
• clinical dental technician
• clinical physiologists (sleep, renal, exercise, respiratory, neurology, and cardiac)
• counsellor
• dental specialists
• dental technician
• dental therapist
• dentist
• dietician
• dispensing optician
• drug and alcohol counsellor
• enrolled nurse
• genetic counsellor
• medical laboratory pre-analytical technician
• medical resonance imaging technologist
• nuclear medicine technologist
• nurse practitioner
• optometrist
• oral health therapist
• orthotic and prosthetic technician
• orthotist/prosthetist
• osteopath
• paramedic/ emergency medical technician
• perfusionist (cardiac)
• pharmacist
• physiotherapist
• play therapist (hospital)
• social worker
• speech language therapist
• sterile processing technician