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Sleep is something we are frequently asked about in primary care. One interesting study 1 , albeit dated, used a cohort of patients with self-reported sleep problems. Participants consumed two medium-sized kiwifruit one hour before bedtime for four weeks and tracked activity using actigraphy and sleep diaries. There was an association with improvements in sleep quality, sleep onset latency, total sleep time, and sleep efficiency. The proposed mechanism includes the presence of melatonin,...

Kia ora koutou,   A reminder that feedback on Te Whata Kura, our new national antibiotic guideline, is due this Monday 10 November at 07:00 h  (a small extension).   As Te Whata Kura is a new domain, some people have had issues accessing https://tewhatakura.nz  on a networked device.  If this is you, please ask your IT folk to unblock the site and, while this is resolving, please access Te Whata Kura on your non-networked devices such as your phone with mobile data or your home computer.  ...

Kia ora, The 2025/26 Invitation to Tender has been released on the In-Tend e-portal . A complete copy of the 2025/26 ITT is available on our website . Ngā mihi, Stef Moir and Jade Matthews-Wanden | Tender Analysts Te Pātaka Whaioranga | Pharmac | PO Box 10 254 | Level 9, 40 Mercer Street, Wellington | 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 31 October 2025. It includes information on:  New updates R esolved 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...

National Measles Immunisation Week Welcome to this special edition of the Immunisation Pānui which features the National Measles Immunisation Week taking place from 3 - 7 November 2025. Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora (Health NZ) is launching a Measles Immunisation Week (3–7 November 2025) to encourage everyone across Aotearoa to check their immunisation status and get immunised against measles. The week is a nationwide initiative to amplify existing campaigns and sector efforts, raise...

Update: nirmatrelvir with ritonavir tablets (Paxlovid) From 1 September 2025 there were access criteria changes for funded COVID-19 antivirals (nirmatrelvir with ritonavir tablets (Paxlovid) and remdesivir injection (Veklury)) These changes can be seen on our website Pharmac webpage Covid-19 antivirals Further changes for prescribers to note: Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) was previously contraindicated in patients with an eGFR < 30 mL/min/1.73 m 2  but now can be considered in this group...