Pseudoephedrine will be allowed back on shelves under the new government following a 12-year ban.
It comes after David Seymour pledged to restore over-the-counter sales of the drug as part of his election campaign.
The drug has been a prescription-only medication since 2011. It's a key precursor ingredient in the manufacture of methamphetamine.
The drug – available under the brand name Sudafed in New Zealand – is prescribed for sinus decongestion.
"Older New Zealanders have noticed that being able to find an over the counter cold and flu medication that actually helps is getting harder," ACT leader Seymour said in September.
"Pseudoephedrine was banned because of fears it would be used for P production and following assurances there would be alternatives.
It was banned from shelves over a decade ago but ACT wants to make it available over-the-counter again. (Source: 1News)
"Instead, the evidence shows that gangs continue to produce P, and there are no viable alternatives for people who are unwell."
This morning, National, ACT, and New Zealand First announced their coalition agreement, where they said the new government will allow the sale of cold medication containing pseudoephedrine.
Speaking to media after the announcement, Seymour said reversing the ban on pseudoephedrine would be part of “long overdue” health reforms.
Earlier this year, a number of pharmacists told 1News they feared that ACT's policy to make the drug pseudoephedrine available for purchase over-the-counter again could put workers in danger.
Retired pharmacist Warren Flaunty said that his pharmacy was "constantly burgled" for pseudoephedrine when it was on the shelves.
"I would say at least a dozen times a year," he told 1News.
Pharmacist Vicky Chan was concerned that the policy would do more harm than good.
"If it does come back in the pharmacy space, in whatever capacity or form, I'm just seeing the chances of more home grown labs, but also security, of our staff."
Waikato GP Dr Jo Scott-Jones said the alternatives already on the shelves are a good replacement.
"It doesn't really make sense that we would want to increase the risk to society by making that change when an effective medication is already available."
Covid-19 inquiry 'a matter of urgency'
Also in the coalition agreement was a promise to: "Ensure, as a matter of urgency in establishment and completion, a full scale, wide ranging, independent inquiry conducted publicly with local and international experts, into how the Covid pandemic was handled in New Zealand".
The agreement said it will include covering: "Use of multiple lockdowns, vaccine procurement and efficacy, the social and economic impacts on both regional and national levels, and whether the decisions made, and steps taken, were justified."
Last December, former prime minister Dame Jacinda Ardern announced a Royal Commission of Inquiry into New Zealand's Covid-19 response to prepare New Zealand for future pandemics, calling it "the right thing to do".
At the time, Seymour said while the party welcomed the Royal Commission, which ACT had called for in May 2020, he was critical of the timing as "conveniently too late for the Commission to report before the election".
"Had they started nine months ago in March, it could have released a draft report, at least, before the campaign period," he said.
National also welcomed the inquiry, but said it was "disappointed that other parties weren't consulted on the membership of the inquiry or the terms of reference, which appear to be limited".
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