Pharmac

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

Conflict in the Middle East Suppliers are working closely with Pharmac to reduce any disruption to people in New Zealand. Where issues arise, we will communicate them on our website and through this email. Conflict in the Middle East: Impact on the supply chain New medicine supply notices Hydralazine hydrochloride (20 mg ampoule) there is a supply issue affecting the Apresoline brand (Pharmacode: 274550 and 2446227). We have listed two alternatives - they have important dif

Supply issue: We are writing to inform you of a supply issue: Viatris notified Pharmac that due to delays at the manufacturing facility, Montelukast tab 5mg is in short supply. Key Date: A new brand Montelukast tab 5mg (Relonchem) is available, and has been listed (funded) from 1 May 2026. Key messages: These tablets are for paediatric use, both brands are chewable, cherry flavour. Montelukast tab 5mg (Relonchem) is a pink coloured, circular, tablet. Montelukast tab 5mg (Vi

Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 1 May 2026. It includes information on: New updates Resolved Supply Issues Supply issue: Montelukast tab 5mg (Viatris) Viatris notified Pharmac that due to a delay with manufacturing Montelukast tab 5mg is in short supply.A new brand Montelukast tab 5mg (Relonchem) will be listed (funded) and available 1 May 2026 These tablets are for paediatric us

There is currently a supply issue affecting olanzapine orodispersible 10 mg and 5 mg tablets (Zypine ODT). This is due to an unexpected issue at the manufacturing site. To ensure people can continue their treatment without interruption, alternative products are being funded from 1 May 2026. All alternative products are not approved by Medsafe and therefore subject to Section 29A of the Medicines Act. Key information: Registered Product 5mg Olanzapine orodispersibl

We are writing to advise you of a supply disruption affecting all strengths of Ramipril (Tryzan) due to an issue at the manufacturing site. Stock of the registered capsules is expected to run out progressively from late April through June, and no resupply of the registered product is expected until mid–late 2026. To maintain continuity of treatment, the supplier has sourced alternatives for all strengths. The alternatives products are tablets rather than capsules, and are n

Please follow this link to our website for the April 2026 Tender Notification. Ngā mihi, Jade Matthews-Wanden | Tender Analyst Te Pātaka Whaioranga | Pharmac | PO Box 10 254 | Level 9, 40 Mercer Street, Wellington | P: 0800 660 050 | www.pharmac.govt.nz

We are writing to inform you of the: Discontinuation: Duolin nebuliser soln, salbutamol 2.5 mg with ipratropium bromide 0.5 mg per vial, 2.5 ml ampoule New listing: Combiprasal nebuliser soln, salbutamol 2.5 mg with ipratropium bromide 0.5 mg per vial, 2.5 ml ampoule Duolin nebuliser soln has been discontinued. The alternate Cipla brand has an expiry date of 30 June 2026. A second alternate, Combiprasal brand will be funded from 1 May 2026. Combiprasal active ingredients and

Due to a delay at the manufacturing site, there is a supply issue affecting Ezetimibe with Simvastatin 10/40 mg (Zimybe). From 1 May 2026 Pharmac is funding an alternative product Ezetimibe with Simvastatin 10/40 mg (Vytorin). This is not a Medsafe approved product and should be prescribed and supplied in line with Section 29A of the Medicines Act 1981. Further information will be added to our webpage as updates become available – Ezetimibe with simvastatin (Zimybe) 10/40 m

Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 24 April 2026. It includes information on: New updates Resolved Supply Issues Discontinuation: Duolin nebuliser soln, containing salbutamol 2.5 mg with ipratropium bromide 0.5 mg per vial, 2.5 ml ampoule New listing: Combiprasal nebuliser soln, containing salbutamol 2.5 mg with ipratropium bromide 0.5 mg per vial, 2.5 ml ampoule Duolin nebuliser so

We’re emailing you today to let you know of a supply issue affecting the 75 mcg strength of Estradot patches. The 25 mcg, 50 mcg, 100 mcg strengths are not currently affected. We expect a shipment of more than 2 months’ supply of Estradot patches to arrive in late April, which we expect will solve the immediate issue. However, supply of Estradot could be disrupted again. This global supply issue has been ongoing since 2022 and is not related to the conflict in the Middle East

Kia ora koutou Pharmac has now opened public consultation on the review of the Exceptional Circumstances Framework , including the Named Patient Pharmaceutical Assessment (NPPA). We would appreciate your support in sharing this information with your networks, particularly with anyone who has experience of, or an interest in, the Exceptional Circumstances Framework. We also welcome requests for direct meetings to discuss the review and provide feedback. I have provided some b

Kia ora We are writing to inform you of a further supply issue with sodium cromoglicate cap 100 mg (Ralicrom) Key messages: Ralicrom capsules have been out of stock since December 2025. During this time, we funded three alternative brands, but all available stock has now been used including the Somex Section 29 brand (Pharmacode: 2719649) Stock of Ralicrom (Pharmacode: 2628295) is expected to arrive during the week ending 24 April 2026. This is the Medsafe approved pro

Start your week with fresh medicine supply notice news! We’re moving this email to a Monday mailout. You can check all medicine notices at any time on our website Conflict in the Middle East Suppliers are working closely with Pharmac to reduce any disruption to people in New Zealand. Where issues arise, we will communicate them on our website and through this email. Conflict in the Middle East: Impact on the supply chain New medicine supply notices Droperidol inj 2.5 mg per m