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Pharmac is seeking feedback on a proposal to fund two new treatment combinations for people with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), a type of blood cancer. Under this proposal, venetoclax with ibrutinib and venetoclax with obinutuzumab would be funded as first‑line treatment options from 1 May 2026. These combinations aim to give people access to targeted therapies earlier, supporting longer‑lasting remission and reducing the need for hospital visits. W

From 1 March 2026 Pharmac is funding ferric derisomaltose (Monofer) in hospitals for people who have experienced serious reactions after other iron infusions. In January, we consulted on a proposal to fund ferric derisomaltose (Monofer) in hospitals for people who have developed hypophosphataemia after an iron infusion. The feedback we have received was supportive. However, clinicians told us a small number of patients who experience serious reactions to other funded iron tr

Kia ora ,The countdown is on to International Rare Disease Day on 28 February, which also marks the beginning of Rare Disorders Month - and we’re excited to see how you will Glow Up and Show Up for Rare  this March! We've made it super easy to join the campaign with our new fundraising platform. Simply sign up  to create your own fundraising page and decide how you would like to #GlowUpShowUp for rare. From morning teas to movie nights, or perhaps even a personal challenge -

Kia ora koutou, OUR LATEST TE WHATA KURA UPDATE – FEBRUARY 2026 We are pleased to share our latest Te Whata Kura newsletter, attached to this email. It includes updates on febrile neutropenia and maternal guidelines, as well as links to promotional and support materials.  You can access Te Whata Kura here:   https://tewhatakura.nz   Please share this newsletter widely across your networks, including clinicians, committees, organisations, and professional bodies involved with

Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington is currently recruiting for two Nurse Practitioners to teach into the Master of Nursing Science and join Te Puna Hauora - School of Health. Each position is part-time (0.5 FTE) and on a two-year fixed-term contract. Please click on the links below for further information, the role descriptions and salary details. Expiry date is 4 March 2026. HLTH543 RN Prescribing Practicum and HLTH517 Diagnostics and Therapeutics:...

Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 13 February 2026. It includes information on:  New updates Resolved Supply Issues Discontinuation: Sensocard blood glucose test strips The supplier has just advised Pharmac that it will be discontinuing Sensocard blood glucose test strips for visually impaired people. The last stock expired at the start of February 2026. Pharmaco CareSens N is avail

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. KIKUYA Alta Oil [FS 10:10], has been verified as meeting the minimum quality standa

Brand Change: We are writing to inform you of the b rand change and subsequent PSO quantity change: Key Messages: Furosemide-AFT Inj 10 mg per ml, 2 ml ampoule will be listed (funded) 1 March 2026.       Between 1 March 2026 and 1 August 2026 Furosemide-Baxter Inj 10 mg per ml, 2 ml ampoule) will be replaced with the AFT brand. The PSO quantity will be increased from 5 to 10 ampoules  for furosemide injection 10 mg per ml, 2 ml ampoule from 1 March 2026, to align with the AFT

New medicine supply notices Calcitonin (Miacalcic) Inj 100 iu per ml, 1 ml ampoule (Pharmacode: 2548356) Stock is limited, an alternative is available and funded. See the website for details and a flyer. Furosemide [Frusemide] 10 mg/ml 2 ml ampoules: Changing brand  From 1 March Furosemide-AFT will be listed to replace Furosemide-Baxter. The pack size is changing see the website for more detail. Have your say We’re consulting on upcoming changes to how the Pharmaceutical Sch

Pharmac is redeveloping the Pharmaceutical Schedule to be better aligned with modern funding arrangements and digital standards. The Schedule was first published in 1994 and has grown significantly over the last three decades. As its scope has expanded, so has the complexity of the products and funding arrangements it needs to reflect. The digital systems that support the Schedule are also outdated and need replacing to ensure information can be updated quickly and consistent

We are writing to inform you that t he supplier Eli Lilly are discontinuing 4 insulins in the 10ml vial presentation. The 3ml penfill presentations remain available.   Insulin Type Brand Presentation Date Supplier stops selling Insulin lispro  Humalog Inj 100 u per ml, 10 ml vial End June 2026 Insulin isophane Humulin NPH  Inj human 100 u per ml, 10 ml vial End June 2026 Insulin isophane with insulin neutral  Humulin 30/70 Inj human with neutral insulin 100 u per ml, 10 m l

We’re letting you know that Pharmac has made a decision to change the funded access criteria for infliximab, etanercept, secukinumab and rituximab.These changes update the Special Authority and Hospital Indication Restrictions for these medicines to simplify and align the criteria where possible. Most of the changes relate to wording and consistency, and the overall intent of the criteria remains the same. However, in some instances we have made more substantive changes, incl

Please follow this link to the  Pharmac decision regarding improving access to treatments in the community for trauma and medical emergencies, and ketamine for palliative care . We want to make sure that everyone who needs to know about this decision is aware of it. Please share this information with people you think might be interested. Ngā mihi Pharmac | Te Pātaka Whaioranga | P: +0800 660 050|  www.pharmac.govt.nz

Please follow this link to the  Pharmac decision regarding improving access to treatments in the community for trauma and medical emergencies, and ketamine for palliative care . We want to make sure that everyone who needs to know about this decision is aware of it. Please share this information with people you think might be interested. Ngā mihi Pharmac | Te Pātaka Whaioranga | 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 06 February 2026. It includes information on:  New updates Resolved Supply Issues 12-month prescriptions – Pharmac’s key messages for prescribers From 1 February 2026, medicines and other products are funded for up to 12 months on a single prescription. Details of all Schedule changes are included in our decision notification, linked here:  Decision

Iloprost (Vebulis) nebulisers  (Pharmacode: 2643006)  Supplies of Vebulis iloprost nebulisers are low throughout New Zealand. An unapproved alternative was listed from 9 February. Details and a patient flyer are available. Updated medicine supply notices Methylphenidate: Supply issue Concerta: 27 mg out of stock, limited supply of 18 and 36 mg, 54 mg available Ritalin: All strengths available Rubifen:  All strengths available Sandoz XR: All strengths available Teva: All stren

We are seeking feedback on a proposal to widen access to brentuximab vedotin for systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma, to improve the lives of around twelve people in New Zealand in the first year of funding. Please follow this link  to the consultation. We welcome your feedback on this proposal at consult@pharmac.govt.nz .  Consultation is open until 5pm Thursday 19 February 2026.  If there are people, you think would be interested in providing feedback to this consultat

We are seeking feedback on a proposal to widen access to brentuximab vedotin for systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma, to improve the lives of around twelve people in New Zealand in the first year of funding. Please follow this link  to the consultation. We welcome your feedback on this proposal at consult@pharmac.govt.nz .  Consultation is open until 5pm Thursday 19 February 2026.  If there are people, you think would be interested in providing feedback to this consulta

A systematic review in The Lancet 1  outlined the cardiometabolic issues with antidepressants.There were a few surprises: None had significant QT interval issues.  Systolic BP went up with amitriptyline and fluoxetine and down with nortriptyline.  Weight loss was observed with bupropion, sertraline, citalopram, paroxetine, and venlafaxine.  Weight gain was found with amitriptyline 1.6 kg and mirtazapine 0.87 kg. Heart rate increased (beats per minute) to 13.77 for nortriptyli

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