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Pharmac Update: Primary Care Prescribers | 27 March 2026
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
admin82291
2 days ago3 min read


Tender results
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
admin82291
2 days ago1 min read


Pharmac - Supply Update
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
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3 days ago2 min read


Proctosedyl suppository. New alternative listed: Scheriproct suppository
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
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5 days ago1 min read


Proposal to award Principal Supply Status for permanent coronary drug-eluting stents to Medtronic
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 _______________________________________________________________
admin82291
6 days ago1 min read


Pharmac Update: Primary Care Prescribers | 20 March 2026
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.
admin82291
Mar 233 min read


New medicine supply notices
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
admin82291
Mar 232 min read
Pharmac review of their exceptional circumstances policy
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
admin82291
Mar 192 min read


Pharmac seeks feedback on the Exceptional Circumstances Framework
We are getting in touch to let you know that Pharmac is seeking feedback on the Exceptional Circumstances Framework (the Framework), and we’d like to hear from you. The Framework outlines how Pharmac considers funding requests for people with exceptional clinical circumstances when those circumstances fall outside the Pharmaceutical Schedule funding process. Patients, whānau, clinicians, and others have told us that the current Framework is no longer fit for purpose and can
admin82291
Mar 172 min read


Pharmac Update: Primary Care Prescribers | 13 March 2026
Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 13 March 2026. It includes information on: New updates Resolved Supply Issues Supply issue: hydrocortisone 5mg + cinchocaine 5mg (Proctosedyl) Suppositories An expected shipment has been delayed. This has resulted in a supplier out of stock of Proctosedyl suppositories. Proctosedyl ointment is available. Ultraproct suppositories have been out of st
admin82291
Mar 163 min read


13 March 2026 | Updates on Supply Issues
New medicine supply notices Flumetasone pivalate (Locorten-Vioform) ear drops (Pharmacode 259799) There will be an out of stock until at least August 2026. The alternatives are Kenacomb (Pharmcode: 253634) and Sofradex (a part charge applies to Sofradex) (Pharmacode: 208728). Sodium Fusidate [fusidic acid] (Foban) Oint 2% (Pharmacode 2556189) The ointment may go out of stock. There is ample supply of the cream (Pharmacode: 2556170) to use as an alternative. Updated medicine
admin82291
Mar 162 min read


Decision to widen access to existing medicines and fund a new medicine for the treatment of cystic fibrosis
Pharmac has made a decision to widen access to Trikafta and Kalydeco, and to fund Alyftrek for the treatment of cystic fibrosis.From 1 April 2026, the following changes will be implemented for people with eligible mutations: Widened access to Trikafta (elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor) Widened access to Kalydeco (ivacaftor) Funding of a new medicine, Alyftrek (vanzacaftor/tezacaftor/deutivacaftor) This decision follows consultation with people with cystic fibrosis, their fami
admin82291
Mar 111 min read


Supply Issue: Ticagrelor tab 90 mg (Sandoz)
Kia ora Supply Issue: We are writing to inform you that due to shipping delays, Sandoz expects to run out of ticagrelor 90mg tab by mid-March 2026. Key Dates: It is estimated that ticagrelor 90mg tab (Sandoz) stock will be depleted by mid-March An alternative brand Ticagrelor Mylan 90mg tab was listed from 1 March 2026 Key messages: Ticagrelor Mylan is from the Italian market. The box will be over labelled with English text, and the blister packs have Italian text. Ti
admin82291
Mar 101 min read


Conflict in the Middle East: Impact on the supply chain
Pharmac has asked suppliers to notify us early of any supply risks, so we can act sooner and support ongoing access to medicines and medical devices. Read more Have your say We’re consulting on upcoming changes to how the Pharmaceutical Schedule will work. Changes to how the Pharmaceutical Schedule will work (consultation closes 13 March 2026) New medicine supply notices Proctosedyl (suppositories) Unfortunately, AFT (the supplier) has run out of Proctosedyl suppositories
admin82291
Mar 102 min read


Proposal to fund letermovir to prevent serious infection
Pharmac is seeking feedback on a proposal to fund letermovir, a medicine that helps prevent serious viral infection in people with very weak immune systems. Under this proposal, letermovir would be funded from 1 May 2026 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. We have heard from clinicians involved in stem cell transplant care and from Pharmac’s cli
admin82291
Mar 51 min read


Pharmac Update: Primary Care Prescribers | 27 February 2026
Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 27 February 2026. It includes information on: New updates Resolved Supply Issues Changes to Antiretroviral Dispensing – Effective 1 March 2026 From 1 March 2026, all listed antiretroviral (community schedule) treatments will default to 90‑day dispensing and may be prescribed and dispensed accordingly where appropriate. Improving access to treatm
admin82291
Mar 23 min read


Reminder of discontinuation: clomipramine 10mg Teva
We are writing to remind you that clomipramine capsules 10mg will be delisted (no longer funded.) Key Points: The delist date from the Pharmaceutical Schedule is 1 April 2026 Clomipramine 25mg tablets will remain available and listed on the Pharmaceutical Schedule Please continue to consider alternative options for patients that require the lower 10mg dose Please share this information with your colleagues and within your networks. If you have any queries, please contac
admin82291
Mar 21 min read


Have your say
We’re consulting on upcoming changes to how the Pharmaceutical Schedule will work. Changes to how the Pharmaceutical Schedule will work (consultation closes 13 March 2026) New medicine supply notices Pedialyte: Claiming update Urgent action required: Pharmacies need to check any claims they made for Pedialyte in February 2026. See the website for more details. Ticagrelor (Tab 90 mg) (Pharmacode: 2638770) The supplier anticipates running out in mid-March. A S29 alternative
admin82291
Mar 22 min read


Proposal to widen access to nivolumab and ipilimumab for resectable melanoma
Pharmac is seeking feedback on a proposal to widen access to nivolumab and ipilimumab for people with stage 3B to stage 4 melanoma that can be removed with surgery. If approved, funded access to these medicines would be widened from 1 May 2026. For more information on this consultation, read the full proposal to widen access to nivolumab and ipilimumab for resectable melanoma We welcome your feedback. Consultation is open until 5pm Monday 9 March 2026. Please send your feedb
admin82291
Feb 261 min read


Proposal to widen access to nivolumab and ipilimumab for resectable melanoma
Pharmac is seeking feedback on a proposal to widen access to nivolumab and ipilimumab for people with stage 3B to stage 4 melanoma that can be removed with surgery. If approved, funded access to these medicines would be widened from 1 May 2026. For more information on this consultation, read the full proposal to widen access to nivolumab and ipilimumab for resectable melanoma We welcome your feedback. Consultation is open until 5pm Monday 9 March 2026. Please send your feedb
admin82291
Feb 241 min read

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