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The Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Regulations 2019 (the Regulations) set the minimum quality standard that medicinal cannabis products and ingredients must meet before they can be supplied in New Zealand. Importers, manufacturers, and suppliers must apply for assessment and provide evidence to the Medicinal Cannabis Agency to verify that their products meet the minimum quality standard. Aurora Half Moon has been verified as meeting the minimum quality standard. More in

Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 30 January 2026. It includes information on:  New updates R esolved Supply Issues 12-month prescriptions – Pharmac’s key messages for prescribers From early 2026 medicines and other products will be funded for up to 12 months on a single prescription. This decision means that funding of medicines and other products will be aligned with the amended

Allevia Hospitals is one of New Zealand’s largest private surgical hospital providers, with leading medical specialists.  Here's their team for the Symposium, ready to provide you with thorough and timely updates across a wide range of topics – from understanding perimenopausal bleeding patterns, weight-loss medication, managing nasal symptoms, to diagnosing and treating Anterior Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment Syndrome (ACNES): Wal Baraza | Jacob Munro | Craig Ball | Nadya York |

Pharmac has confirmed the decision to continue funding national and regional level storage and distribution services for funded vaccines through agreements with the following suppliers: DHL Supply Chain (New Zealand) Limited (“DHL”) – for the supply of various national vaccines storage and distribution services Pharmacy Retailing (NZ) Limited trading as ProPharma (“ProPharma”) – for the supply of various regional vaccines storage and distribution services From 1 February 2026

Kickstart the New Year with a Nurse Practitioner role in the location you love! Step into the year ahead with a fresh role that brings renewed purpose to your nursing career. Start the next chapter of your medical journey with Third Age Health, New Zealand’s leading and most trusted provider of general practice healthcare in Aged Residential Care. Together, we can deliver meaningful, person-centred care to older adults across the country. We’re expanding our team nationwide a

Pharmac will fund a new strength of thiamine hydrochloride injection, 50 mg per ml (2 ml ampoule), for use in Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora hospitals, from 1 April 2026. Pharmac currently lists thiamine hydrochloride injection 100 mg per ml (1 ml vial and 2 ml vials) and injection 125 mg per ml (2 ml vial) in Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule. None of these line items have a contracted product and we understand most products meeting these descriptions a

Less than 8 weeks to go!  Goodfellow Symposium 2026 In the meantime, here are our latest webinars and podcasts:  Adult ADHD: From diagnosis to long-term management WEBINAR 3 February, 7.30pm: Join Psychiatrist David Codyre who will provide practical guidance on continuing ADHD care once treatment has begun.  Register here   Ovarian cancer: diagnosis to treatment WEBINAR 10 February, 7.30pm: Join Gynae-Oncologist Cecile Bergzoll on offering practical guidance to ovarian cancer

Pharmac is widening access to bortezomib for people with Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia (WM), a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Pharmac included bortezomib in the 2024/25 invitation to tender, and as a result of a price reduction, Pharmac is now widening access to bortezomib from 1 February 2026. This will allow people with Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia to receive bortezomib as an initial treatment or following treatment with other funded medicines such as bendamustine

Kia ora. We are writing to inform you  a supply issue with sodium cromoglicate cap 100   mg (Ralicrom). Several alternatives have or will be listed as follows: Brand Somex Allergoval (German) Nalcrom (Italian) Presentation Cap 100 mg Cap 100 mg Cap 100 mg Pack size 100 cap 100 cap 20 cap Pharmacode 2719649 2721015 2721023 ETA to New Zealand Week of 26 January Can be obtained through wholesaler Can be obtained through wholesaler Funded from 1 January 2026 1 February 2026 1 Feb

Kia ora.   We are writing to inform you that Duolin nebules are in short supply.  Rex the supplier has sourced an alternative product, which will be listed (funded) from 1 February 2026. Alternative product This is not a Medsafe approved product and will need to be prescribed and dispensed in line with Section 29 of the Medicines Act (therefore not available on PSO.)  This medicine contains albuterol sulfate  instead of salbutamol sulphate . Albuterol is the USA official gene

Alfacalcidol (One-Alpha) cap 1 mcg (Pharmacode: 203092) Due to a shipping delay and increased demand, Link (the supplier) has limited supply of this product. Other presentations of alfacalcidol remain available. Bisacodyl: Brand change coming Biscodyl-AFT is listed from 1 February. It will not be available to order until later in February. There is still ample stock of Bisacodyl Viatris, it will not be delisted until 1 July 2026. Calcium Resonium powder  (Pharmacode: 201510)

Kia ora   Supply issue:   We are writing to inform you of a supply issue. Due to a delay with manufacturing the supplier of calcium polystyrene sulphonate (Calcium Resonium), has advised it anticipates an out of stock between late-February and May 2026.   Key Date: An alternative product Calcium polystyrene sulphonate Powder, (Roma brand) will be funded from 1 February 2026, under Section 29A of the Medicines Act.   Key Differences:   Both products are the same strength , how

Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 23 January 2026. It includes information on:  New updates Resolved Supply Issues Supply issue: Duolin Nebuliser soln, salbutamol 2.5 mg with ipratropium bromide 0.5 mg per vial, 2.5 ml ampoule Duolin nebules are in short supply. Rex the supplier has sourced an alternative product, to be listed (funded) from 1 February 2026 This is not a Medsafe appr

Pharmac is seeking feedback on a proposal to widen access to Trikafta and Kalydeco and begin funding Alyftrek for the treatment of cystic fibrosis. If approved, these medicines would be funded from 1 April 2026. ➤  Proposal to fund widen access to Trikafta and Kalydeco, and fund Alyftrek for the treatment of cystic fibrosis .  We welcome your feedback. Consultation is open until 5pm Wednesday 11 February 2026. Please send your feedback to consult@pharmac.govt.nz  or use the

Nurse Practitioner – Full or Part Time Residential Eldercare Services   🌟 Join Our Exceptional Team as a Nurse Practitioner! 🌟 Are you passionate about providing the highest standard of care to the elderly? Do you thrive in a collaborative and supportive work environment? We have an exciting job opportunity for Nurse Practitioners to join our unique totally mobile general practice dedicated to eldercare. At Residential Eldercare Services, we believe in fostering a dynamic a

Te Whata Kura is the new national antimicrobial guideline. It includes revised guidance around: Cellulitis, irrespective of patient BMI, 1000mg Flucloxacillin QID with food for 5 days. Cystitis, uncomplicated: Nitrofurantoin (Micronised version trade name Macrobid), so as not to confuse with the regular Nitrofurantoin and underdose the patient (100 mg BD for 5 days with food). Adult unilateral otitis media and no severe symptoms no antibiotics needed. Adult bilateral otitis m

Kia ora, Pharmac is proposing to fund ferric derisomaltose (Monofer) in hospitals for people with low iron levels who have experienced low phosphate levels (hypophosphataemia) after other iron infusions.More information about the consultation, including how to provide feedback, is available here   Proposal to fund ferric derisomaltose (Monofer) in hospitals for people who have experienced hypophosphataemia after other iron infusions Public consultation on the proposal will cl

Kia ora   We are writing to inform you of a change for olanzapine depot injections.   Currently, to initiate a patient on treatment with olanzapine depot injection prescribers must submit an Exceptional Circumstances application using a NPPA form. This was implemented to manage the supply issue with olanzapine depot.   Key date: From 1 February 2026 , prescribers will instead be able to submit a Special Authority application to initiate treatment. Patients already on olanzapi

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Discontinuation:   We are writing to remind you that NovoNordisk are rationalising their product range and discontinuing four insulins. Please begin transitioning your patients to suitable alternatives.   Key Dates: PenMix30 Penfill 3ml Supply of the PenMix30 ended October 2025. The remaining stock expires in April 2026. This will be delisted (no longer funded) 1 May 2026. Please see advice:  NZSSD Guidance: Discontinuation of Penmix30 and Penmix50 and Mixtard 30 , July 2024.