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Pharmac has decided to fund two new combination treatments and widen access to ibrutinib for people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) from 1 May 2026.Under this decision: People with CLL will be able to receive venetoclax with ibrutinib or venetoclax with obinutuzumab as first‑line treatments, meaning they can be used as an initial treatment option rather than after other treatments have been tried. Access to ibrutinib will be widened so it can be used on its own as a

I hope you were all able to take a moment to rest and recharge over the long weekend. The start of the year has been a busy one, and I want to acknowledge the work you do every day to support people, families, whānau and communities, and the impact it can have on your own wellbeing.  Today marks an important milestone. We have launched public consultation on the draft Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy – a ten-year plan to guide our collective efforts to improve mental hea

Pharmac has decided to fund letermovir, a medicine that helps prevent serious viral infection in people with very weak immune systems. From 1 May 2026, letermovir will be funded for people who have had a stem cell transplant, as well as a small number of other people with severe immunosuppression who cannot use other funded antiviral medicines. This decision follows public consultation and strong feedback from clinicians involved in stem cell transplant care, patient groups,

Our latest webinars and podcast for you: Whole of life protection: A focus on adult vaccination WEBINAR 14 April: Nikki Turner on the importance of adult immunisation as part of comprehensive preventive care in primary practice. Register here Redefining insomnia management WEBINAR 21 April: David Cunnington, a specialist sleep physician, will review contemporary insomnia management, including CBT-I, and discuss the role of medications, including lemborexant, a newer agent

Pharmac is now consulting publicly on potential brand changes for medicines included in the 2025/26 annual tender. Consultation on possible brand changes through the annual tender This year, around a third of the over 400 items that were tendered may result in a brand change. We want to ensure that any decisions we make are informed by the experiences and needs of prescribers and the people they care for. Consultation opens on Wednesday 8 April and closes on Monday 4 May. M

Issue 339 - 2 April 2026 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 If you have any queries, please email us a

We are pleased to announce our decision to widen access to nivolumab and ipilimumab for treatment of resectable melanoma. From 1 May 2026 , nivolumab in combination with ipilimumab will be funded for people with stage 3B to stage 4 melanoma that can be removed with surgery. This decision was informed by consultation feedback from people with melanoma, their whānau, advocacy groups, clinicians and other health sector stakeholders. You can read the full decision here: Decision

This RCT 1 enrolled 437 secondary care patients aged ≥65 years (mean 75) with CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores ≥2 in men and ≥3 in women. Participants were assigned to 6-month (180-day) monitoring, using an Apple smartwatch with photoplethysmography and single-lead ECG functions, or to standard care. Over 6 months, atrial fibrillation (AF) was detected in 21 patients (9.6%) in the intervention group versus 5 (2.3%) in controls. Several asymptomatic AF episodes were identified only in th

Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 27 March 2026. It includes information on: New updates Resolved Supply Issues Supply issue: Dexamfetamine 5 mg 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. From 1 April, the Aspen brand of dexamfetamine 5 mg tablets will be

Kia ora, Please follow this link to our website for the March 2026 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

Enhance your Dermatology Expertise: Join Our Online Session on Saturday, 16 May. Skin conditions are among the most frequent presentations in primary care. This 4-hour webinar brings together top New Zealand dermatology specialists to help you navigate these complexities with confidence. What to expect: Expert-led, primary care–focused updates on recognising and managing common dermatology presentations seen in everyday practice. Practical guidance on diagnosing and treating

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 Ensure: Pack size change Ensure powders are changing from 850 g to 800 g. The price remains the same. New Pharmacodes are listed from 1 April. New packs will start arriving during June 2026

We are writing to inform you of - Supply issue: Proctosedyl suppository. New alternative listed: Scheriproct suppository. Key messages: The supplier (AFT) has informed Pharmac that due to a delayed shipment that Proctosedyl suppositories are out of stock. Scheriproct suppositories have been listed (funded) on the Pharmaceutical Schedule. Scheriproct suppositories will be available in New Zealand by early April. Ultraproct suppositories have been out of stock for a long period

Kia ora This link will take you to the proposal to award Principal Supply Status for permanent coronary drug-eluting stents to Medtronic New Zealand Limited. A list of products included in the proposal is attached . Pharmac welcomes feedback on this proposal. To provide feedback, please submit it in writing by 4pm Tuesday 28 April 2026 to Sam.Edlund@Pharmac.govt.nz Ngā mihi, Sam Edlund | Procurement Manager _______________________________________________________________

Our latest webinars and podcasts for you: Whole of life protection: A focus on adult vaccination WEBINAR 14 April: Nikki Turner on the importance of adult immunisation as part of comprehensive preventive care in primary practice. Register here Redefining insomnia management WEBINAR 21 April: David Cunnington, a specialist sleep physician, will review contemporary insomnia management, including CBT-I, and discuss the role of medications, including lemborexant, a newer agen

Please see attached latest Research Review

Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 20 March 2026. It includes information on: New updates Resolved Supply Issues Enoxaparin inj 100 mg per ml (1 ml syringe) (Clexane) For Primary Response in Medical Emergencies PRIME services Only the Enoxaparin inj 100 mg per ml (1 ml syringe) is funded on a Practitioner Supply Order (PSO) with an endorsement limiting funding to PRIME indications.

Acarbose (Accarb) 50 mg and 100 mg tablets Delays to shipments means there is limited stock available of the acarbose 50 mg (Pharmacode: 2402408) and 100 mg (Pharmacode: 2402416) tablets. Next shipment is expected by the end of the month. Dexamfetamine (Noumed) 5 mg tab (Pharmacode: 2647516) Stock levels are low at the supplier. An alternative is listed from 1 April 2026. It is Medsafe registered but contains gluten. Epoetin alfa (Binocrit) inj 40,000 iu in 1 ml (Pharmacod

Pharmac have now gone live with public consultation feedback on the Exceptional Circumstances Framework (the Framework) including the Named Patient Pharmaceutical Assessment (NPPA) . We would appreciate your help in sharing this consultation with your networks, particularly anyone who may have experience of, or interest in, the Exceptional Circumstances Framework. Patients, whānau, clinicians, and others have told us that the current Framework is no longer fit for purpose and

Issue 338 - 19 March 2026 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't