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Pharmac is seeking feedback on a proposal to widen access to Trikafta and Kalydeco and begin funding Alyftrek for the treatment of cystic fibrosis. If approved, these medicines would be funded from 1 April 2026. ➤  Proposal to fund widen access to Trikafta and Kalydeco, and fund Alyftrek for the treatment of cystic fibrosis .  We welcome your feedback. Consultation is open until 5pm Wednesday 11 February 2026. Please send your feedback to consult@pharmac.govt.nz  or use the

Te Whata Kura is the new national antimicrobial guideline. It includes revised guidance around: Cellulitis, irrespective of patient BMI, 1000mg Flucloxacillin QID with food for 5 days. Cystitis, uncomplicated: Nitrofurantoin (Micronised version trade name Macrobid), so as not to confuse with the regular Nitrofurantoin and underdose the patient (100 mg BD for 5 days with food). Adult unilateral otitis media and no severe symptoms no antibiotics needed. Adult bilateral otitis m

Kia ora, Pharmac is proposing to fund ferric derisomaltose (Monofer) in hospitals for people with low iron levels who have experienced low phosphate levels (hypophosphataemia) after other iron infusions.More information about the consultation, including how to provide feedback, is available here   Proposal to fund ferric derisomaltose (Monofer) in hospitals for people who have experienced hypophosphataemia after other iron infusions Public consultation on the proposal will cl

Kia ora   We are writing to inform you of a change for olanzapine depot injections.   Currently, to initiate a patient on treatment with olanzapine depot injection prescribers must submit an Exceptional Circumstances application using a NPPA form. This was implemented to manage the supply issue with olanzapine depot.   Key date: From 1 February 2026 , prescribers will instead be able to submit a Special Authority application to initiate treatment. Patients already on olanzapi

Discontinuation:   We are writing to remind you that NovoNordisk are rationalising their product range and discontinuing four insulins. Please begin transitioning your patients to suitable alternatives.   Key Dates: PenMix30 Penfill 3ml Supply of the PenMix30 ended October 2025. The remaining stock expires in April 2026. This will be delisted (no longer funded) 1 May 2026. Please see advice:  NZSSD Guidance: Discontinuation of Penmix30 and Penmix50 and Mixtard 30 , July 2024.

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 Night Ride has been verified as meeting the minimum quality standard. Aurora

We're starting the year with a flurry of premium content for you, and if you're thinking about coming to the Goodfellow Symposium in March, today is the last day to nab a bargain:  Goodfellow Symposium 2026 Medical ethics PODCAST episode: Professor Angela Ballantyne discusses some commonly encountered medical ethics cases in general practice.  Episode here   Adult ADHD: From diagnosis to long-term management WEBINAR 3 February, 7.30pm: Join Psychiatrist David Codyre who will

We are contacting you about the recent Alfamino Infant Formula recall . Alfamino is a specialist infant formula for babies with allergies or gastrointestinal disorders. It is largely a prescribed product and is not available in supermarkets. The affected batches of Alfamino Infant Formula are: Batch number 51070017Y2, use-by date 17.04.2027 Batch number 51080017Y1, use-by date 18.04.2027 Batch number 51480017Y3, use-by date 28.05.2027 Batch number 51490017Y1, use-by date 29.0

In this study of 200 patients with recurrent AF, patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either regular caffeinated coffee consumption or complete abstinence from coffee and caffeine for 6 months 1 . The consumption group was encouraged to drink at least one cup daily, while the abstinence group avoided all caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee and other caffeine products. Baseline intake was 7 cups per week in both groups. During follow-up, the median intake was 7 (

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. Bloom Blue Dream has been verified as meeting the minimum quality standard. White S

Alfacalcidol (One-Alpha) oral drops 2 mcg/ml and cap 0.25 mcg  (Pharmacode 315761 & 203084) Due to a shipping delay and increased demand, Link (the supplier) is out of stock of the oral drops and has limited supply of the 0.25 mcg presentations of alfacalcidol. Ferrous fumarate (Ferro-Tab) (Pharmacode 2162156) Due to the discontinuation of another iron supplement product, there is constrained supply of the Ferro-Tab brand. Hydroxocobalamin (B12) inj 1 mg per ml (Pharmacode

Discontinuation:   We are writing to inform you that NovoNordisk are rationalising their product range and discontinuing four insulins. Please begin transitioning your patients to suitable alternatives.   Key Dates: PenMix30 Penfill 3ml Supply of the PenMix30 ended October 2025. The remaining stock expires in April 2026. This will be delisted (no longer funded) 1 May 2026. Please see advice:  NZSSD Guidance: Discontinuation of Penmix30 and Penmix50 and Mixtard 30 , July 2024.

Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 19 December 2025. It includes information on:  New updates Resolved Supply Issues New listing: aripiprazole 300 mg and 400mg injection (Abilify Maintena) Abilify Maintena can now be administered by intramuscular injection into either the gluteal or deltoid muscle. The previous packaging did not include the extra needle to use for deltoid administrat

We understand that there are concerns about the efficacy and adhesion of some batches of Estradot (oestradiol) patches. Medsafe have been investigating the concerns raised.   Information about the Medsafe process can be found here:   Information from the supplier of Estradot, Sandoz can be found here:      We have sent communications to consumer groups advising: Pharmac is responsible for the funding of medicines, while Medsafe assesses medicines to ensure they meet internati

Kia ora koutou As we approach the end of the year, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the significant work happening across the country to support the mental health and wellbeing of our communities. This time of year can bring both opportunities for rest and connection, and additional challenges for some people, whānau and communities. Our role at the Ministry of Health supports and strengthens the work happening across the health system. The advice we provide and the fra

Supply issue:   We are writing to inform you that due to difficulty sourcing the active ingredient, the delivery of Zincaps into NZ will be further delayed    Key messages: Resupply of the Medsafe approved Zincaps is not expected until late February 2026. An alternative Section 29 Zincaps was listed 1 October 2025, and this stock has now been depleted. A second Section 29 alternative product will be listed (funded) and available from 1 January 2026. This alternate product is

Kia ora koutou As we approach the end of the 2025, I want to acknowledge the dedicated and hard-working health workforce, who have worked tirelessly across the country to improve health outcomes for all New Zealanders. While our health system faces challenges, good progress has been made this year in a range of areas that are key to improving New Zealanders' health outcomes. This week’s reporting against health targets highlights some of this progress. Key improvements for

Ministry of Health update on puberty blockers On 4 December we provided an update on the Government’s regulations for puberty blocker prescribing which were announced on 19 November 2025 and published online on the Legislation New Zealand website: · Medicines (Restriction on Prescribing Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone Analogues) Amendment Regulations 2025   The regulations take effect from tomorrow, 19 December 2025 . After this date, new prescriptions for GnRH analogues for t

The brand of varenicline tab 0.5 mg and 1 mg starter pack and varenicline tab 1 mg continuation pack  is changing from Champix (supplied by Pfizer) to Pharmacor Varenicline.   Pharmacor Varenicline tab 0.5 mg x 11 and 1 mg x 42 starter pack and varenicline tab 1 mg x 56 continuation pack will be listed in the community and hospital schedules from 1 January 2026.   Pharmacor Varenicline will have Principal Supply Status from 1 June 2026 and Champix will be delisted.   What is

In this RCT, 382 children aged 5-15 years with asthma using budesonide 50 μg-formoterol 3 μg, two actuations as needed, equivalent to 1 puff Symbicort 100/6 or Vannair 100/6, were compared to salbutamol 100 ug as needed. 1 The primary outcome was asthma attacks as rate per participant per year. The annualised rate of asthma attacks was lower in the budesonide-formoterol group than in the salbutamol group, cluster-adjusted rates 0·23 versus 0·41 per participant per year (rela