From 1 March 2026 Pharmac is funding ferric derisomaltose (Monofer) in hospitals for people who have experienced serious reactions after other iron infusions. In January, we consulted on a proposal to fund ferric derisomaltose (Monofer) in hospitals for people who have developed hypophosphataemia after an iron infusion. The feedback we have received was supportive. However, clinicians told us a small number of patients who experience serious reactions to other funded iron tr

Pharmac is seeking feedback on a proposal to fund two new treatment combinations for people with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), a type of blood cancer. Under this proposal, venetoclax with ibrutinib and venetoclax with obinutuzumab would be funded as first‑line treatment options from 1 May 2026. These combinations aim to give people access to targeted therapies earlier, supporting longer‑lasting remission and reducing the need for hospital visits. W

From 1 March 2026 Pharmac is funding ferric derisomaltose (Monofer) in hospitals for people who have experienced serious reactions after other iron infusions. In January, we consulted on a proposal to fund ferric derisomaltose (Monofer) in hospitals for people who have developed hypophosphataemia after an iron infusion. The feedback we have received was supportive. However, clinicians told us a small number of patients who experience serious reactions to other funded iron tr

Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 13 February 2026. It includes information on:  New updates Resolved Supply Issues Discontinuation: Sensocard blood glucose test strips The supplier has just advised Pharmac that it will be discontinuing Sensocard blood glucose test strips for visually impaired people. The last stock expired at the start of February 2026. Pharmaco CareSens N is avail

Brand Change: We are writing to inform you of the b rand change and subsequent PSO quantity change: Key Messages: Furosemide-AFT Inj 10 mg per ml, 2 ml ampoule will be listed (funded) 1 March 2026.       Between 1 March 2026 and 1 August 2026 Furosemide-Baxter Inj 10 mg per ml, 2 ml ampoule) will be replaced with the AFT brand. The PSO quantity will be increased from 5 to 10 ampoules  for furosemide injection 10 mg per ml, 2 ml ampoule from 1 March 2026, to align with the AFT

New medicine supply notices Calcitonin (Miacalcic) Inj 100 iu per ml, 1 ml ampoule (Pharmacode: 2548356) Stock is limited, an alternative is available and funded. See the website for details and a flyer. Furosemide [Frusemide] 10 mg/ml 2 ml ampoules: Changing brand  From 1 March Furosemide-AFT will be listed to replace Furosemide-Baxter. The pack size is changing see the website for more detail. Have your say We’re consulting on upcoming changes to how the Pharmaceutical Sch

Pharmac is redeveloping the Pharmaceutical Schedule to be better aligned with modern funding arrangements and digital standards. The Schedule was first published in 1994 and has grown significantly over the last three decades. As its scope has expanded, so has the complexity of the products and funding arrangements it needs to reflect. The digital systems that support the Schedule are also outdated and need replacing to ensure information can be updated quickly and consistent

We are writing to inform you that t he supplier Eli Lilly are discontinuing 4 insulins in the 10ml vial presentation. The 3ml penfill presentations remain available.   Insulin Type Brand Presentation Date Supplier stops selling Insulin lispro  Humalog Inj 100 u per ml, 10 ml vial End June 2026 Insulin isophane Humulin NPH  Inj human 100 u per ml, 10 ml vial End June 2026 Insulin isophane with insulin neutral  Humulin 30/70 Inj human with neutral insulin 100 u per ml, 10 m l

We’re letting you know that Pharmac has made a decision to change the funded access criteria for infliximab, etanercept, secukinumab and rituximab.These changes update the Special Authority and Hospital Indication Restrictions for these medicines to simplify and align the criteria where possible. Most of the changes relate to wording and consistency, and the overall intent of the criteria remains the same. However, in some instances we have made more substantive changes, incl

Please follow this link to the  Pharmac decision regarding improving access to treatments in the community for trauma and medical emergencies, and ketamine for palliative care . We want to make sure that everyone who needs to know about this decision is aware of it. Please share this information with people you think might be interested. Ngā mihi Pharmac | Te Pātaka Whaioranga | P: +0800 660 050|  www.pharmac.govt.nz

Please follow this link to the  Pharmac decision regarding improving access to treatments in the community for trauma and medical emergencies, and ketamine for palliative care . We want to make sure that everyone who needs to know about this decision is aware of it. Please share this information with people you think might be interested. Ngā mihi Pharmac | Te Pātaka Whaioranga | P: +0800 660 050|  www.pharmac.govt.nz

Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 06 February 2026. It includes information on:  New updates Resolved Supply Issues 12-month prescriptions – Pharmac’s key messages for prescribers From 1 February 2026, medicines and other products are funded for up to 12 months on a single prescription. Details of all Schedule changes are included in our decision notification, linked here:  Decision

Iloprost (Vebulis) nebulisers  (Pharmacode: 2643006)  Supplies of Vebulis iloprost nebulisers are low throughout New Zealand. An unapproved alternative was listed from 9 February. Details and a patient flyer are available. Updated medicine supply notices Methylphenidate: Supply issue Concerta: 27 mg out of stock, limited supply of 18 and 36 mg, 54 mg available Ritalin: All strengths available Rubifen:  All strengths available Sandoz XR: All strengths available Teva: All stren

We are seeking feedback on a proposal to widen access to brentuximab vedotin for systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma, to improve the lives of around twelve people in New Zealand in the first year of funding. Please follow this link  to the consultation. We welcome your feedback on this proposal at consult@pharmac.govt.nz .  Consultation is open until 5pm Thursday 19 February 2026.  If there are people, you think would be interested in providing feedback to this consultat

We are seeking feedback on a proposal to widen access to brentuximab vedotin for systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma, to improve the lives of around twelve people in New Zealand in the first year of funding. Please follow this link  to the consultation. We welcome your feedback on this proposal at consult@pharmac.govt.nz .  Consultation is open until 5pm Thursday 19 February 2026.  If there are people, you think would be interested in providing feedback to this consulta

Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 30 January 2026. It includes information on:  New updates R esolved Supply Issues 12-month prescriptions – Pharmac’s key messages for prescribers From early 2026 medicines and other products will be funded for up to 12 months on a single prescription. This decision means that funding of medicines and other products will be aligned with the amended

Pharmac has confirmed the decision to continue funding national and regional level storage and distribution services for funded vaccines through agreements with the following suppliers: DHL Supply Chain (New Zealand) Limited (“DHL”) – for the supply of various national vaccines storage and distribution services Pharmacy Retailing (NZ) Limited trading as ProPharma (“ProPharma”) – for the supply of various regional vaccines storage and distribution services From 1 February 2026

Pharmac will fund a new strength of thiamine hydrochloride injection, 50 mg per ml (2 ml ampoule), for use in Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora hospitals, from 1 April 2026. Pharmac currently lists thiamine hydrochloride injection 100 mg per ml (1 ml vial and 2 ml vials) and injection 125 mg per ml (2 ml vial) in Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule. None of these line items have a contracted product and we understand most products meeting these descriptions a

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