News

In this issue New medicine supply notices Paxlovid pharmacy-initiated supply Updated medicine supply notices Tender brand change for cefalexin Resolved issues Recent decisions or open consultations Monthly updates New medicine supply notices Fulvestrant: Your brand is changing  The funded brand of fulvestrant is changing from Faslodex to Fulvestrant EVER Pharma. Fulvestrant EVER Pharma will be listed from 1 December 2025. Faslodex will be delisted 1 May 2026. A patient flier is available to...

Kia ora,   This is a reminder following on from our notification in June regarding the change in funded brands of oestradiol patches.   From 1 December 2025, the funded brands of oestradiol patches will be Estradiol TDP Mylan and Estradot. Everyone who uses funded oestradiol patches will need to use either of these brands.   Pharmac has secured as much Estradot as the supplier can provide. However, there may be times when there is not enough Estradot for everyone who needs it. The issues...

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...