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Kia ora koutou,   A reminder that feedback on Te Whata Kura, our new national antibiotic guideline, is due this Monday 10 November at 07:00 h  (a small extension).   As Te Whata Kura is a new domain, some people have had issues accessing https://tewhatakura.nz  on a networked device.  If this is you, please ask your IT folk to unblock the site and, while this is resolving, please access Te Whata Kura on your non-networked devices such as your phone with mobile data or your ho

Kia ora, The 2025/26 Invitation to Tender has been released on the In-Tend e-portal . A complete copy of the 2025/26 ITT is available on our website . Ngā mihi, Stef Moir and Jade Matthews-Wanden | Tender Analysts Te Pātaka Whaioranga | Pharmac | PO Box 10 254 | Level 9, 40 Mercer Street, Wellington | P: 0800 660 050 |  www.pharmac.govt.nz

Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 31 October 2025. It includes information on:  New updates R esolved Supply Issues Supply issue: codeine phosphate tab all strengths Noumed, the supplier of Codeine Phosphate tablets, has advised that the 30 mg presentation is currently out of stock. Limited stock remains of the 15 mg and 60 mg presentations. New stock will be available in the week c

National Measles Immunisation Week Welcome to this special edition of the Immunisation Pānui which features the National Measles Immunisation Week taking place from 3 - 7 November 2025. Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora (Health NZ) is launching a Measles Immunisation Week (3–7 November 2025) to encourage everyone across Aotearoa to check their immunisation status and get immunised against measles. The week is a nationwide initiative to amplify existing campaigns and sector ef

Update: nirmatrelvir with ritonavir tablets (Paxlovid) From 1 September 2025 there were access criteria changes for funded COVID-19 antivirals (nirmatrelvir with ritonavir tablets (Paxlovid) and remdesivir injection (Veklury)) These changes can be seen on our website Pharmac webpage Covid-19 antivirals Further changes for prescribers to note: Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) was previously contraindicated in patients with an eGFR < 30 mL/min/1.73 m 2  but now can be consider

New community medicine supply notices Codeine (15 mg, 30 mg, 60 mg tablets)  The supplier has run out of the 30mg due to shipping delays. There are limited supplies of the 15 mg and 60 mg tablets. Pharmac is working closely with the supplier and wholesalers to manage the supply issue.  Desmopressin acetate (Desmopressin-PH&T) Nasal spray  (Pharmacode: 2702916) Due to manufacturing delays and shipping issues, AFT is out of stock of this product. Other presentations of desmopre

Kia ora, Please follow this  link  to our website for the 30 October 2025 Tender Notification. Ngā mihi, Stefanie Moir | Tender Analyst Te Pātaka Whaioranga | Pharmac | PO Box 10 254 | Level 9, 40 Mercer Street, Wellington | P: 0800 660 050 |  www.pharmac.govt.nz

Issue 332 - 30 October 2025 Welcome to the fortnightly Health Improvement and Innovation Digest. The Digest has links to key evidence of interest, with access to new content arranged by topic. You can forward this newsletter to others who may be interested in receiving it. They can register and subscribe here . You can also access other recent issues of the digest here. If you have any queries, please email us at  library@health.govt.nz . Article Access For articles that aren

From 1 December 2025, Pharmac will be changing the funded brand of fulvestrant injection (50 mg per ml, 5 ml prefilled syringe), used to treat certain types of breast cancer. The funded brand will change from Faslodex (AstraZeneca) to Fulvestrant EVER Pharma (InterPharma). Fulvestrant EVER Pharma will be listed from 1 December 2025. Faslodex will be delisted on 1 May 2026. Fulvestrant EVER Pharma will be awarded Principal Supply Status from 1 May 2026 to 30 June 2028. The new

Kia ora.   We are writing to update you on the constrained supply of oxytocin injection 10 IU per mL, 1 mL ampoule (Pharmacode: 2577046) from mid to late November 2025.   Medsafe has approved a labelling exemption for an alternative German product. The product should be available to order by the end of October 2025. The product is identical except the label on the ampoule is in German (as shown below). It will come in the standard New Zealand-labelled carton, and it will have

Pharmac has confirmed it will fund an additional extended-release brand of methylphenidate - Methylphenidate Sandoz XR - from 1 December 2025.  This decision follows recent consultation and will help increase supply and provide more options for people who need ADHD treatments. Methylphenidate Sandoz XR will be available in the same strengths as Concerta – 18 mg, 27 mg, 36 mg, and 54 mg. It will be funded alongside currently available brands, under existing eligibility criteri

Coming up in CPD: Goodfellow Symposium 2026 21/22 March 2026: Practical, evidence-based clinical skills you can use next week:  Check it out here . Herpes zoster and cardiovascular disease WEBINAR 4 November: Hasan Bhally and Rachael Niederer on understanding the burden and prevention of herpes zoster in patients with cardiovascular risk. Register here Beyond borders: Challenges in bariatric surgical tourism WEBINAR 11 November: Equipping clinicians to provide safe, non-judge

Heparin sodium inj 5,000 iu per ml, 5 ml ampoule (Brand change)  (Pharmacode: 2651815) The funded brand of heparin sodium injections (5,000 iu/ml 5 ml ampoules) is changing from Panpharma to Pfizer. Pfizer will be listed from 1 November 2025. A flyer for patients is available. Nonacog gamma [Recombinant Factor IX] (Rixubis) Inj 2,000 iu vial  (Pharmacode: 2487950) Due to recent high demand, Takeda, the supplier has low stock of the inj 2,000 iu vial of Rixubis. Takeda is wor

Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 24 October 2025. It includes information on:  New updates R esolved Supply Issues 24-10-2025 Pharmac Weekly Update to Prescribers  in Primary Care Consultation now open - proposed changes to the Options for Investment list Pharmac is now consulting publicly on a proposal to bring greater clarity and transparency to how we manage medicine funding app

Pānui October 2025 Message from the Chief Executive Kia ora koutou katoa, I’m writing this hard on the heels of the recent Valuing Life: NZ Medicines Access Summit  – which means that improving access to rare disorder medicines is very much top of mind. It’s all the more poignant with James McGoram’s recent resignation as RDNZ’s Chairperson, and his imminent move to Australia as a medical refugee, solely because that’s where he’ll be able to access the lifesaving medicines he

Kia ora,   We are writing regarding funded diabetes technology, specifically insulin pump choice, and quantity limitations for continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), and the process to follow when encountering faulty devices.   Insulin pump choice Since October 2024, Pharmac has funded two insulin pumps for people meeting eligibility criteria. A table comparing the various features and differences between the two pumps  is on the Pharmac website. Pump selection is considered ‘p

From 1 November 2025, Pharmac will be updating its rare disorders policy principles by broadening the definition of a rare disorder. The new definition will be: “a medical condition with a specific pattern of clinical signs, symptoms and findings that affects fewer than or equal to 1 in 2,000 people in Aotearoa New Zealand.” This change aligns Pharmac’s policy with the Aotearoa New Zealand Rare Disorders Strategy 2024 and reflects the feedback we received from stakeholders a

We want your feedback on a proposal to fund silver diamine fluoride for people accessing dental services through Health New Zealand public hospitals, and the ‘Health New Zealand Community Oral Health Service’ for children and some adolescents. Silver diamine fluoride is a topical dental treatment, combining ionic silver and fluoride. It can stop the progression of existing cavities and reduce tooth sensitivity. It is used in hospitals and community dental clinics and can only

Welcome to the latest update from the Ministry of Health | Manatū Hauora on the regulation of medicines, medical devices and natural health products.   This newsletter includes updates on the following:  ·         Important policy decisions on the Medical Products Bill   ·         Community pharmacy ownership  ·         Advertising   ·         Statutory timeframes  ·         Offences and penalties  ·         Medical products regulator  ·         Medical products exports  ·   

Kia ora   We are writing to inform you of a supply issue.   Key messages The supplier Pfizer has informed us that Depo-Testosterone will be in short supply from late-October to mid-December 2025. Pfizer has been unable to source an alternative bioequivalent product. Please consider not starting any new patients on Depo-Testosterone for the supply issue period Clinical advice has told us - prescribers may wish to consider alternative funded testosterone products , such as Rean