Nearly all Kiwis want prescriptions to remain free despite National planning on bringing the cost back.
A new Talbot Mills Poll found 86 percent of New Zealanders support keeping fees off prescriptions.
The poll, which is funded by the Prescription Access Initiative (PAI), found free-for-all is "one of the most popular policies ever" with a wide range of support from supporters of the Coalition Government.
Of those overall results, it found 76 percent of National voters, 75 percent of ACT voters, and 92 percent of New Zealand First voters were in favour of keeping free prescriptions.
"It’s rare to find such high agreement across the political spectrum, but the positive effects of universal free prescriptions are strong enough to bridge the divide," said PAI spokesperson Lanny Wong.
Wong said the Government has the power to keep prescribed medicines free for everyone without compromising healthcare elsewhere.
Research released last month by PAI found the removal of prescription costs has led to better healthcare access, preventative care and patient safety.
But there is concern if National were to bring back fees, healthcare accessibility will worsen, and 'create red tape and cost inefficiencies'.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon insists free prescriptions will be scrapped, telling TVNZ "those who can pay should be helping and subsidising... definitely want to help people who can't afford it".
Luxon said that the benefit of the $5 fee is the money saved could be put towards "13 new cancer treatments".
