Brand change: We are writing to inform you of a brand change for testosterone undecanoate inj 250 mg per ml, (Reandron) Key Dates: The Gonadron brand of testosterone undecanoate inj 250 mg per ml is to be listed (funded) from 1 June 2026 on the Community Schedule and in Health NZ hospitals. Testosterone undecanoate inj 250 mg per ml (Reandron) brand will be delisted (no longer funded) 1 November 2026. The active ingredients and excipients are the same as the Reandron bran

Kia ora Pharmac is seeking feedback on a proposal to change brands of meningococcal ACWY, pneumococcal, and influenza vaccines – and widen access to the flu vaccine for all children from 6 months up to 5 years (6-59 months inclusive). We are also proposing to widen access to a vaccine to help prevent people who have already had a serious pneumococcal infection from getting it again. In August 2025, we released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the supply of funded vaccines, e

Kia ora, RE: Supply Disruption - Ezetimibe with Simvastatin 10/80 mg combination tablet (Zimybe) Due to a delay at the manufacturing site, there is a supply issue affecting Ezetimibe with Simvastatin 10/80 mg (Zimybe). From 1 June 2026 Pharmac will fund an alternative product Ezetimibe with Simvastatin 10/80 mg (Vytorin). This is not a Medsafe approved product and should be prescribed and supplied in line with Section 29A of the Medicines Act. Further information, including r

Health New Zealand and Pharmac have made the decision to extend pharmacy services. This decision means community pharmacies will be able to provide a wider range of funded clinical services for common conditions that may have otherwise required a GP visit, including: scabies treatment for children/families oral rehydration treatment for children headlice treatment for children/families pain and fever management for children conjunctivitis treatment for children treatment

Itraconazole (Itrazole) cap 100 mg (Pharmacode 2354322) A section 29 alternative was listed 1 April (Pharmacode: 2705109). Resupply of the approved brand isn’t likely until much later in 2026. Lansoprozole (Lanzsol) 15 mg pack size change: Due to issues at the manufacturing site, stock of Lanzol Relief 15 mg capsules (Pharmacode 2482533) is running low. Pharmac has listed an alternative pack size of the registered product (Pharmacode 2726017). Please note that this product is

Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 15 May 2026. It includes information on: New updates Resolved Supply Issues Supply issue - Itraconazole (Itrazole) cap 100 mg Due to manufacturing delays, a supply issue is affecting itraconazole 100 mg capsules. An alternative product Itraconazole Crescent was listed in 2025.This product is not Medsafe approved and will need to be prescribed and

Pharmac is seeking feedback on a proposal to widen access to three funded medicines for people with type 2 diabetes. Under the proposal, access to empagliflozin, liraglutide and dulaglutide would be widened so more people at high clinical risk can access these medicines earlier in their treatment. The proposal aims to support better long‑term management of diabetes and reduce the risk of serious heart and kidney complications. We are now inviting feedback on this proposal....

Pharmac is seeking feedback on a proposal to widen access to three funded medicines for people with type 2 diabetes.Under the proposal, access to empagliflozin, liraglutide and dulaglutide would be widened so more people at high clinical risk can access these medicines earlier in their treatment. The proposal aims to support better long‑term management of diabetes and reduce the risk of serious heart and kidney complications.We are now inviting feedback on this proposal....

This link will take you to the notification of the decision to award Principal Supply Status for permanent coronary drug-eluting stents (DES) to Medtronic New Zealand Limited (“Medtronic”) Medtronic’s Resolute Onyx DES will be listed on the Pharmaceutical Schedule and available for Health NZ hospitals at a reduced price from 1 June 2026. If you need any further information please visit our website. Ngā mihi Mikka Nocete | Device Category Manager _____________________________

Pharmac is reviewing how it funds medicines for people with exceptional clinical circumstances (including the Named Patient Pharmaceutical Assessment - NPPA), and we want to hear from you. We’ve heard that the current Exceptional Circumstances Framework can be difficult to understand and doesn’t always work as well as it should. This review is an opportunity to improve how the framework operates, and your feedback is important. Nothing will change during the review - appl

Codeine phosphate (Noumed) 30 mg (Pharmacode: 2643219) There is stock available. We have had reports that some pharmacies have experienced restrictions on supply of codeine. The supplier is working with wholesalers to understand why this is happening. While stock may get low, we do not anticipate a complete outage. Colestyramine (Powder) 4 g sachet Supplies of colestyramine powder sachets will be limited (Pharmacode: 2662000). Pharmac is investigating funded alternatives. Rif

Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 8 May 2026. It includes information on: New updates Resolved Supply Issues Supply issue: dexamfetamine 5mg 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. The Aspen brand of dexamfetamine 5 mg tablets is available. The excipi

This link will take you to the proposal to enter into an agreement with Smith & Nephew for medical devices in the following categories: Surgical Implants Medical and Surgical Instruments and Power Tools Smith & Nephew’s range of medical devices are proposed to be listed on the Pharmaceutical Schedule under a Pharmac agreement from 1 July 2026. A list of products included in the proposal is attached. Pharmac welcomes feedback on this proposal. To provide feedback, please su

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 Hydralazine hydrochloride (20 mg ampoule) there is a supply issue affecting the Apresoline brand (Pharmacode: 274550 and 2446227). We have listed two alternatives - they have important dif

Supply issue: We are writing to inform you of a supply issue: Viatris notified Pharmac that due to delays at the manufacturing facility, Montelukast tab 5mg is in short supply. Key Date: A new brand Montelukast tab 5mg (Relonchem) is available, and has been listed (funded) from 1 May 2026. Key messages: These tablets are for paediatric use, both brands are chewable, cherry flavour. Montelukast tab 5mg (Relonchem) is a pink coloured, circular, tablet. Montelukast tab 5mg (Vi

Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 1 May 2026. It includes information on: New updates Resolved Supply Issues Supply issue: Montelukast tab 5mg (Viatris) Viatris notified Pharmac that due to a delay with manufacturing Montelukast tab 5mg is in short supply.A new brand Montelukast tab 5mg (Relonchem) will be listed (funded) and available 1 May 2026 These tablets are for paediatric us

There is currently a supply issue affecting olanzapine orodispersible 10 mg and 5 mg tablets (Zypine ODT). This is due to an unexpected issue at the manufacturing site. To ensure people can continue their treatment without interruption, alternative products are being funded from 1 May 2026. All alternative products are not approved by Medsafe and therefore subject to Section 29A of the Medicines Act. Key information: Registered Product 5mg Olanzapine orodispersibl

We are writing to advise you of a supply disruption affecting all strengths of Ramipril (Tryzan) due to an issue at the manufacturing site. Stock of the registered capsules is expected to run out progressively from late April through June, and no resupply of the registered product is expected until mid–late 2026. To maintain continuity of treatment, the supplier has sourced alternatives for all strengths. The alternatives products are tablets rather than capsules, and are n

Please follow this link to our website for the April 2026 Tender Notification. Ngā mihi, Jade Matthews-Wanden | Tender Analyst Te Pātaka Whaioranga | Pharmac | PO Box 10 254 | Level 9, 40 Mercer Street, Wellington | P: 0800 660 050 | www.pharmac.govt.nz

We are writing to inform you of the: Discontinuation: Duolin nebuliser soln, salbutamol 2.5 mg with ipratropium bromide 0.5 mg per vial, 2.5 ml ampoule New listing: Combiprasal nebuliser soln, salbutamol 2.5 mg with ipratropium bromide 0.5 mg per vial, 2.5 ml ampoule Duolin nebuliser soln has been discontinued. The alternate Cipla brand has an expiry date of 30 June 2026. A second alternate, Combiprasal brand will be funded from 1 May 2026. Combiprasal active ingredients and