Pharmac

There is currently a supply disruption affecting risperidone (Teva) 0.5 mg and 2 mg tablets. This is due to an issue at the manufacturer. To support continuity of care, from 1 June, Pharmac will list (fund) alternative products, Risperidone Sandoz 0.5 mg tab and Risperidone Sandoz 2 mg tab. Please note Risperidone Sandoz tablets are not Medsafe‑approved and must therefore be prescribed and supplied in accordance with Section 29A of the Medicines Act. Further information

Re: Supply disruption: Colestyramine Powder for Oral Suspension (Sachet). There is a supply disruption affecting the currently listed Section 29 colestyramine oral sachets, Colestyramine – Mylan. From 1 June, Pharmac will list an alternative Section 29 product: Questran Light (Neon). This is not a Medsafe‑approved product and must be prescribed in accordance with Section 29 of the Medicines Act. As no Medsafe approved product is currently listed on the Schedule, Section

Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 29 May 2026. It includes information on: New updates Resolved Supply Issues Supply Constraint – TruSteel Infusion Sets There is a global supply constraint affecting TruSteel infusion sets due to issues at a component supplier. This disruption is not specific to New Zealand and is likely to continue for the rest of 2026. It affects all four funded T

We’re writing to let you know that Pharmac is extending the consultation period on the proposed changes to access criteria for type 2 diabetes medicines. In May, we released a proposal to amend the Special Authority criteria for empagliflozin, liraglutide, and dulaglutide. We’ve received a significant amount of feedback so far, which reflects how important access to these medicines is for people living with type 2 diabetes. We’ve also heard that more people would like the opp

New medicine supply notices Fluorouracil inj 50 mg/ml 20 ml and 50 ml vials: (Pharmacodes: 2618435 and 2674092) Accord is out of stock of these products. Paracetamol oral liquid: Lower strength (120 mg per 5 ml)The brand of this product is changing brand from 1 June 2026. Updated medicine supply notices Droperidol inj 2.5 mg per ml, 1 ml ampoule (Pharmacode 2690543) The previously funded brand, PanPharma (Pharmacode:2527138), has been re-listed. There is a small amount of

This is to correct the dates sent out on Friday. Gonadron brand will be listed 1 July 2026 Brand change: We are writing to inform you of a brand change for testosterone undecanoate inj 250 mg per ml, (Reandron) Key Dates: The Gonadron brand of testosterone undecanoate inj 250 mg per ml is to be listed (funded) from 1 July 2026 on the Community Schedule and in Health NZ hospitals. Testosterone undecanoate inj 250 mg per ml (Reandron) brand will be delisted (no longer fun

Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 22 May 2026. It includes information on: New updates Resolved Supply Issues Supply Disruption - Ezetimibe with Simvastatin 10/80 mg (Zimybe) Due to a delay at the manufacturing site, there is a supply issue affecting ezetimibe with simvastatin 10/80 mg combination tablet (Zimybe). From 1 June 2026 Pharmac is funding an alternative product ezetimibe

Brand change: We are writing to inform you of a brand change for testosterone undecanoate inj 250 mg per ml, (Reandron) Key Dates: The Gonadron brand of testosterone undecanoate inj 250 mg per ml is to be listed (funded) from 1 June 2026 on the Community Schedule and in Health NZ hospitals. Testosterone undecanoate inj 250 mg per ml (Reandron) brand will be delisted (no longer funded) 1 November 2026. The active ingredients and excipients are the same as the Reandron bran

Kia ora Pharmac is seeking feedback on a proposal to change brands of meningococcal ACWY, pneumococcal, and influenza vaccines – and widen access to the flu vaccine for all children from 6 months up to 5 years (6-59 months inclusive). We are also proposing to widen access to a vaccine to help prevent people who have already had a serious pneumococcal infection from getting it again. In August 2025, we released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the supply of funded vaccines, e

Kia ora, RE: Supply Disruption - Ezetimibe with Simvastatin 10/80 mg combination tablet (Zimybe) Due to a delay at the manufacturing site, there is a supply issue affecting Ezetimibe with Simvastatin 10/80 mg (Zimybe). From 1 June 2026 Pharmac will fund an alternative product Ezetimibe with Simvastatin 10/80 mg (Vytorin). This is not a Medsafe approved product and should be prescribed and supplied in line with Section 29A of the Medicines Act. Further information, including r

Health New Zealand and Pharmac have made the decision to extend pharmacy services. This decision means community pharmacies will be able to provide a wider range of funded clinical services for common conditions that may have otherwise required a GP visit, including: scabies treatment for children/families oral rehydration treatment for children headlice treatment for children/families pain and fever management for children conjunctivitis treatment for children treatment

Itraconazole (Itrazole) cap 100 mg (Pharmacode 2354322) A section 29 alternative was listed 1 April (Pharmacode: 2705109). Resupply of the approved brand isn’t likely until much later in 2026. Lansoprozole (Lanzsol) 15 mg pack size change: Due to issues at the manufacturing site, stock of Lanzol Relief 15 mg capsules (Pharmacode 2482533) is running low. Pharmac has listed an alternative pack size of the registered product (Pharmacode 2726017). Please note that this product is

Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 15 May 2026. It includes information on: New updates Resolved Supply Issues Supply issue - Itraconazole (Itrazole) cap 100 mg Due to manufacturing delays, a supply issue is affecting itraconazole 100 mg capsules. An alternative product Itraconazole Crescent was listed in 2025.This product is not Medsafe approved and will need to be prescribed and

Pharmac is seeking feedback on a proposal to widen access to three funded medicines for people with type 2 diabetes. Under the proposal, access to empagliflozin, liraglutide and dulaglutide would be widened so more people at high clinical risk can access these medicines earlier in their treatment. The proposal aims to support better long‑term management of diabetes and reduce the risk of serious heart and kidney complications. We are now inviting feedback on this proposal....

Pharmac is seeking feedback on a proposal to widen access to three funded medicines for people with type 2 diabetes.Under the proposal, access to empagliflozin, liraglutide and dulaglutide would be widened so more people at high clinical risk can access these medicines earlier in their treatment. The proposal aims to support better long‑term management of diabetes and reduce the risk of serious heart and kidney complications.We are now inviting feedback on this proposal....

This link will take you to the notification of the decision to award Principal Supply Status for permanent coronary drug-eluting stents (DES) to Medtronic New Zealand Limited (“Medtronic”) Medtronic’s Resolute Onyx DES will be listed on the Pharmaceutical Schedule and available for Health NZ hospitals at a reduced price from 1 June 2026. If you need any further information please visit our website. Ngā mihi Mikka Nocete | Device Category Manager _____________________________

Pharmac is reviewing how it funds medicines for people with exceptional clinical circumstances (including the Named Patient Pharmaceutical Assessment - NPPA), and we want to hear from you. We’ve heard that the current Exceptional Circumstances Framework can be difficult to understand and doesn’t always work as well as it should. This review is an opportunity to improve how the framework operates, and your feedback is important. Nothing will change during the review - appl

Codeine phosphate (Noumed) 30 mg (Pharmacode: 2643219) There is stock available. We have had reports that some pharmacies have experienced restrictions on supply of codeine. The supplier is working with wholesalers to understand why this is happening. While stock may get low, we do not anticipate a complete outage. Colestyramine (Powder) 4 g sachet Supplies of colestyramine powder sachets will be limited (Pharmacode: 2662000). Pharmac is investigating funded alternatives. Rif

Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 8 May 2026. It includes information on: New updates Resolved Supply Issues Supply issue: dexamfetamine 5mg tablets There is a supply issue affecting the Noumed brand of dexamfetamine 5 mg tablets. The supplier has advised that stock will be unavailable from April to June 2026. The Aspen brand of dexamfetamine 5 mg tablets is available. The excipi

This link will take you to the proposal to enter into an agreement with Smith & Nephew for medical devices in the following categories: Surgical Implants Medical and Surgical Instruments and Power Tools Smith & Nephew’s range of medical devices are proposed to be listed on the Pharmaceutical Schedule under a Pharmac agreement from 1 July 2026. A list of products included in the proposal is attached. Pharmac welcomes feedback on this proposal. To provide feedback, please su