Pharmac is widening access to bortezomib for people with Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia (WM), a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Pharmac included bortezomib in the 2024/25 invitation to tender, and as a result of a price reduction, Pharmac is now widening access to bortezomib from 1 February 2026. This will allow people with Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia to receive bortezomib as an initial treatment or following treatment with other funded medicines such as bendamustine

Kia ora. We are writing to inform you  a supply issue with sodium cromoglicate cap 100   mg (Ralicrom). Several alternatives have or will be listed as follows: Brand Somex Allergoval (German) Nalcrom (Italian) Presentation Cap 100 mg Cap 100 mg Cap 100 mg Pack size 100 cap 100 cap 20 cap Pharmacode 2719649 2721015 2721023 ETA to New Zealand Week of 26 January Can be obtained through wholesaler Can be obtained through wholesaler Funded from 1 January 2026 1 February 2026 1 Feb

Kia ora.   We are writing to inform you that Duolin nebules are in short supply.  Rex the supplier has sourced an alternative product, which will be listed (funded) from 1 February 2026. Alternative product This is not a Medsafe approved product and will need to be prescribed and dispensed in line with Section 29 of the Medicines Act (therefore not available on PSO.)  This medicine contains albuterol sulfate  instead of salbutamol sulphate . Albuterol is the USA official gene

Alfacalcidol (One-Alpha) cap 1 mcg (Pharmacode: 203092) Due to a shipping delay and increased demand, Link (the supplier) has limited supply of this product. Other presentations of alfacalcidol remain available. Bisacodyl: Brand change coming Biscodyl-AFT is listed from 1 February. It will not be available to order until later in February. There is still ample stock of Bisacodyl Viatris, it will not be delisted until 1 July 2026. Calcium Resonium powder  (Pharmacode: 201510)

Kia ora   Supply issue:   We are writing to inform you of a supply issue. Due to a delay with manufacturing the supplier of calcium polystyrene sulphonate (Calcium Resonium), has advised it anticipates an out of stock between late-February and May 2026.   Key Date: An alternative product Calcium polystyrene sulphonate Powder, (Roma brand) will be funded from 1 February 2026, under Section 29A of the Medicines Act.   Key Differences:   Both products are the same strength , how

Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 23 January 2026. It includes information on:  New updates Resolved Supply Issues Supply issue: Duolin Nebuliser soln, salbutamol 2.5 mg with ipratropium bromide 0.5 mg per vial, 2.5 ml ampoule Duolin nebules are in short supply. Rex the supplier has sourced an alternative product, to be listed (funded) from 1 February 2026 This is not a Medsafe appr

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

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.

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

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

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

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

Pharmac is calling for new funding applications for medicines for rare disorders ahead of our Rare Disorders Advisory Committee meeting. We know that people with rare disorders face challenges including access to suitable health care and accessing effective medicines. We are committed to a regular call for applications for medicines for rare disorders. We are asking for new applications from pharmaceutical suppliers so we can consider taking them to our next meeting on  Wedne

Following feedback, Pharmac has decided not to proceed with a proposal to decline some low-ranked applications on the Options for Investment (OFI) list. We heard from a wide range of people - clinicians, professional groups, patient advocates, individuals and pharmaceutical companies. People told us that while they understood our aim was to improve transparency, they did not want us to remove funding applications from the OFI. We’ve listened carefully and appreciate the time

Kia ora   We are writing to inform you of two new listings:   aripiprazole 300 mg and 400mg injection (Abilify Maintena)   Key Date: Both of these products will be listed (funded) from 1 January 2026   Key messages: Abilify Maintena can now be administered by intramuscular injection into either the gluteal or deltoid muscle. The previous listed (funded) products did not include the extra needle to use for deltoid  administration. The package with needle for deltoid administra