Pharmac says in its latest annual review it is making progress towards nationally consistent access to hospital medicines.
The drug-funding agency also says that learning from past experiences will serve it well as it moves to take up its expanded role in managing hospital as well as community medicines.
Pharmac says it is working towards building a nationally consistent list of the medicines all district health boards will provide for their hospital patients.
Chief executive Matthew Bougham says it should save money, but the main aim is to end what's known as postcode prescribing - where what people can get depends on where they live.
