News

Pharmac is seeking feedback on a proposal to widen access to nivolumab and ipilimumab for people with stage 3B to stage 4 melanoma that can be removed with surgery. If approved, funded access to these medicines would be widened from 1 May 2026. For more information on this consultation, read the full proposal to widen access to nivolumab and ipilimumab for resectable melanoma We welcome your feedback. Consultation is open until 5pm Monday 9 March 2026. Please send your feedback to...

We are writing to inform you that from 1 March 2026, the following treatments will be available in the community via listing in Section B of the Pharmaceutical schedule:   For Primary Response in Medical Emergencies PRIME services Droperidol inj 2.5 mg per ml (1 ml ampoule) Glucose inj 5% (100 ml bag) Glucose inj 10% (500 ml bag) Ketamine inj 100 mg per ml (2 ml vial) Methoxyflurane solution for inhalation 999 mg per g (3 ml bottle and plastic inhaler, and 3 ml bottles) Tranexamic acid inj...

Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 20 February 2026. It includes information on:  New updates Resolved Supply Issues Improving access to treatments in the community for trauma and medical emergencies, and ketamine for palliative care From 1 March 2026, the following treatments will be available and funded on the Community Schedule: For Primary Response in Medical Emergencies PRIME services Droperidol...

New medicine supply notices Chloramphenicol (Devatis) Eye ointment 1% (Pharmacode: 2576902) Supplies of this product are low due to a shortage of the active ingredient. The eye drops are available as an alternative.  Dexamethasone phosphate (Medsurge) Inj 4 mg per ml, 2 ml ampoule  (Pharmacode: 2690535) The supplier has limited stock of the 2 ml ampoule. There is stock of the 1 ml ampoule. Olanzapine (Zypine ODT) 10 mg orodispersible tablets (Pharmacode: 2439840) Due to manufacturing and...

Breakfast with a show! On both days of the Symposium, we'll serve breakfast alongside great talks. Your only challenge will be deciding which to go to.On Saturday morning you have a choice of: Winter readiness: Respiratory management essentials, with James Wethasinghe Moving our A into G for CKM health, with Walaa Saweirs Sunday's offering: Cardiovascular risk after COPD exacerbations in NZ and the role of triple therapy, with Jeff Harrison and William Good The 6th Anniversary: Covid, you've...

Supply Issue:   We are writing to inform you that the supplier Teva has advised Pharmac that it is unable to provide teriparatide injection. Pharmac are listing an alternate product.   Key Dates: The Teva brand will be unavailable from the end of February 2026. The resupply date is not yet confirmed. An alternative - Forteo brand will be listed (funded) on the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 March 2026   Key messages: The Forteo brand was previously supplied to the New Zealand market from 2011...