From 1 February 2027, Pharmac will fund additional strengths of levothyroxine tablets to support more flexible and accurate dosing for people with hypothyroidism. The change follows clinical advice that people taking levothyroxine may require precise dose adjustments, and that currently funded strengths may not always support the most convenient dosing regimen. The new strength options may reduce the need for alternate-day dosing regimens, and the need to combine multiple tab

Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 11 September 2026. It includes information on: New updates Reminders Resolved Supply Issues New updates Widening of Access: rosuvastatin removal of Special Authority From 1 October 2026, rosuvastatin will no longer require a Special Authority for funded access. This means it is open listed and may be prescribed funded to any New Zealander when cli

Re: Supply Issue - mirtazapine 30 mg tablets There is a supply issue affecting mirtazapine 30 mg tablets and stock is currently very limited. We are aware that stock availability varies across the country, and some regions may experience temporary out-of-stocks. The next shipment is expected to arrive in New Zealand tomorrow, 22 September 2026. Pharmac is working closely with the supplier and wholesalers to expedite distribution once the shipment arrives. We recognise

Pharmac is seeking feedback on a proposal to widen and simplify access to four medicines for people with high blood pressure and bacterial infections.Pharmac is proposing to: Fund ceftolozane with tazobactam for people with serious multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. Widen access to two medicines, bedaquiline and linezolid, for people with non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections, which are rare and difficult-to-treat bacterial infections. Widen access to captopril oral

Pharmac is seeking feedback on a proposal to widen and simplify access to four medicines for people with high blood pressure and bacterial infections.Pharmac is proposing to: Fund ceftolozane with tazobactam for people with serious multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. Widen access to two medicines, bedaquiline and linezolid, for people with non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections, which are rare and difficult-to-treat bacterial infections. Widen access to captopril oral

Pharmac is seeking feedback on a proposal to widen access to febuxostat from 1 February 2027 for the treatment of gout in people whose symptoms cannot be adequately controlled with allopurinol, or who can’t tolerate allopurinol. Currently, people must trial both allopurinol and probenecid before becoming eligible for funded febuxostat. Pharmac is proposing to remove the requirement to trial probenecid. This would give patients and clinicians two options for second-line treat

We’re writing to remind you that Pharmac is funding a new brand of methylphenidate – Rubifen LA – from 1 October 2026. This decision is part of our work to strengthen supply, provide more treatment options for people with ADHD and narcolepsy and support the prescriber eligibility changes on 1 February 2026 for ADHD stimulant medicines. Supply information We are funding five strengths of Rubifen LA from 1 October 2026. 10 mg and 20 mg strengths are available. 30 mg should be a

Clexane: new ERIS safety lock mechanism From September 2026, Clexane injections will change to the ERIS safety lock mechanism. Links to the suppliers’ guides for clinicians and consumers are available on the website. Clexane: new ERIS safety lock mechanism Mercaptopurine (Puri-Nethol) 50 mg tablet The supplier may run out of Puri-Nethol brand mercaptopurine 50 mg tablets at the end of September. A section 29A alternative has been listed from 10 September 2026. Mercaptopurine

Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 4 September 2026. It includes information on: New updates Resolved Supply Issues Supply issue: Bicillin LA injection. Please reserve stock for children under 13 years We notified you in June that the supply of Benzathine benzylpenicillin (Bicillin LA) Inj 900 mg (1.2 million units) in 2.3 ml syringe, will be significantly delayed. Key Dates: The n

We are writing to update you on current issues. Change of Salt Coversyl tablets Supply Issues Mercaptopurine 50mg tablets (Puri-nethol) Trusteel Infusion Sets Reminder Disopyramide phosphate capsule 100mg (Rythmodan - Neon) Brand Change/ Delisting Changes to funded Escitalopram 10mg tablets Reminder of discontinuations5 Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) Epilim 100mg tab crushable Enhanced safety feature 1. Clexane injections. 1. Coversyl tablets change o

Supply issue: Bicillin LA injection. Please reserve stock for children under 13 years Supply issue: Bicillin LA injection We notified you in June that the supply of Benzathine benzylpenicillin (Bicillin LA) Inj 900 mg (1.2 million units) in 2.3 ml syringe, will be significantly delayed. Key Dates: The next shipment of Bicillin LA is not expected until mid-November 2026. An alternative has been available - Benzathine benzylpenicillin (Inj 900 mg (1.2 million units) Benzeta

New supply notices Ipratropium bromide nebules (Nebuliser soln, 250 mcg per ml, 2 ml ampoule): (Pharmacode: 2724863) The latest shipment of Viatris brand ipratropium nebules has been delayed. The next shipment of nebules is expected to arrive by the end of August. It will take a further 2 or 3 weeks to reach pharmacies around the country. > Ipratropium bromide nebules (Nebuliser soln, 250 mcg per ml, 2 ml ampoule) Levetiracetam (Everet) Tab 1,000 mg (Pharmacode: 2479567) Due

Pharmac is widening access to funded influenza vaccination from today for all children under 5 (under 59 months inclusive). This means all children in this age group are now eligible for a free influenza vaccine (Influvac Tetra). The change follows an increase in influenza-related illness, particularly among young children, and confirmation that there is sufficient vaccine supply available in New Zealand to support widened access. Children under five years of age are more lik

Pharmac Update: Primary Care Prescribers | 28 August 2026 Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 28 August 2026. It includes information on: Discontinuations New updates Resolved Supply Issues Discontinuations Discontinuation: Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) The supplier of the Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device has notified Pharmac that they will cease s

In August 2025, we asked for feedback on a proposal to decline 19 applications. We’re grateful for the feedback we received in response to our consultation. For each of the applications that we received feedback on, we have summarised the theme of feedback we received and our response. Today we’re sharing our decision to keep two applications open and decline 17 applications. Decision to decline inactive applications for the funding of some medicines We understand this out

Pharmac is changing the funded brands of influenza, meningococcal ACWY and pneumococcal vaccines from 2027. Access to funded influenza vaccination will widen to include all children aged 6 months up to their fifth birthday (6-59 months inclusive) from 1 April 2027. Pharmac has also widened access to a vaccine to help prevent people who have already had a serious pneumococcal infection from getting it again. These decisions follow consultation on a proposal arising from the 20

Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 21 August 2026. It includes information on: Discontinuations New updates Resolved Supply Issues Discontinuations Discontinuation: Sodium valproate (Epilim) 100mg crushable tablets The supplier Sanofi has notified Pharmac of the discontinuation of sodium valproate (Epilim brand) 100mg crushable tablets. This is a global discontinuation. Sanofi expe

The Pharmac website is experiencing an intermittent issue with not displaying published pages, either on an index page (like medicine notices) or through site search. The pages are published. You can find them by clicking the links in this email or using an external search engine, such as google, to search the chemical name and “pharmac nz”. We are working to resolve this issue. Calcitriol (0.25 mcg and 0.5 mcg caps): Brand change A tender has been awarded to Devatis to suppl

We are writing to update you on two issues. Discontinuations Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) Supply Issue Dapsone tab 25mg 1.Discontinuation - Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) The supplier of the Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device has notified Pharmac that they will cease supplying it to New Zealand from 1 December 2026. While stock may remain available within the supply chain for a period after this date, Pharmac intends to delist

Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 14 August 2026. It includes information on: New updates Resolved Supply Issues New updates: Supply Issue Reminder: Trusteel Infusion Sets There is a global supply constraint affecting TruSteel infusion sets (used with Tandem insulin pumps) due to issues at a component supplier. It affects all four funded TruSteel infusion set products. Pharmac als