New Zealand Grants Two Psychiatrists Authority to Prescribe MDMA for PTSD

Medsafe has approved two psychiatrists to prescribe pharmaceutical‑grade MDMA to eligible PTSD patients in New Zealand, following a review of their expertise and treatment plans. The decision aligns the country with Australia, where MDMA‑assisted psychotherapy has been offered clinically for years. The psychiatrists will administer the drug in a controlled clinic setting, with no home dispensing, and will follow strict safeguards and comprehensive assessment protocols. The approval does not constitute a medicine licence; it applies only to the two clinicians, and any other prescriber must obtain separate Medsafe approval. The move is intended to broaden access to an innovative therapy for patients who have not responded to conventional treatments.