News

Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 07 November 2025. It includes information on:  New updates Resolved Supply Issues Supply issue: codeine phosphate tab all strengths Noumed, the supplier of codeine phosphate tablets, has advised that the 30 mg presentation is currently out of stock. Limited stock remains of the 15 mg and 60 mg presentations. New stock will be available in the week commencing 17...

Pharmac has confirmed it will fund silver diamine fluoride for people accessing dental services through public hospitals, and the ‘Health New Zealand Community Oral Health Service’ for children and some adolescents. This decision follows recent consultation and is expected to benefit children, elderly patients, and those who may find some traditional dental procedures challenging. Silver diamine fluoride is a topical dental treatment, combining ionic silver and fluoride. It can stop the...

Kia ora   Brand Change: We are writing to inform you of the brand change for docusate sodium 50 mg with sennosides 8 mg tablet.   Key Messages: Solax a new brand of docusate sodium 50 mg with sennosides 8 mg, will be listed from 1 December 2025. The Laxsol brand will be delisted 1 May 2026. Please support your patients with this change. Although we do not anticipate problems, we are aware that the Laxsol brand has been available in NZ for many years. The Solax tablets and Laxsol tablets have...

Coming up in CPD:  Goodfellow Symposium 2026 21/22 March 2026: Practical, evidence-based clinical skills you can use next week:  Check it out here .  Asthma update: latest treatments and practical tips WEBINAR 18 November: Angela Moran reviews the NZ Asthma guidelines and discusses the types of asthma and which treatments may be appropriate for these, including biologic therapies.    Register here   Updates in gout and weight management WEBINAR 25 November: Join Lisa Stamp, Rinki Murphy and...

Issue 333 - 13 November 2025 Welcome to the fortnightly Health Improvement and Innovation Digest. The Digest has links to key evidence of interest, with access to new content arranged by topic. You can forward this newsletter to others who may be interested in receiving it. They can register and subscribe here . You can also access other recent issues of the digest here. If you have any queries, please email us at  library@health.govt.nz . Article Access For articles that aren't open access,...

Pharmac Decision: Silver diamine fluoride to be funded from 1 December Pharmac has confirmed it will fund silver diamine fluoride for people accessing dental services through public hospitals, and the ‘Health New Zealand Community Oral Health Service’ for children and some adolescents. This decision follows recent consultation and is expected to benefit children, elderly patients, and those who may find some traditional dental procedures challenging. Silver diamine fluoride is a topical...