New medicine supply notices
- admin82291
- 22 hours ago
- 4 min read
Alfacalcidol (One-Alpha) oral drops 2 mcg/ml and cap 0.25 mcg (Pharmacode 315761 & 203084) Due to a shipping delay and increased demand, Link (the supplier) is out of stock of the oral drops and has limited supply of the 0.25 mcg presentations of alfacalcidol.
Ferrous fumarate (Ferro-Tab) (Pharmacode 2162156) Due to the discontinuation of another iron supplement product, there is constrained supply of the Ferro-Tab brand.
Hydroxocobalamin (B12) inj 1 mg per ml (Pharmacode 2637391) The supplier of hydroxocobalamin advises that it is out of stock of the Panpharma brand. Expected resupply end December 2025/early January 2026.
Lanreotide (all strengths) Due to issues at the manufacturing plant, the supplier currently has no stock available of Mytolac. An alternative is listed from 1 January 2026.
Brand changes
Dimethicone 5% cream pump bottle
Jaychem’s HealthE (Pharmacode: 2702924) is changing to Hydralock (Pharmacode 2696940)
1 January 2026
Price increase for HealthE dimethicone 5% cream and 4% lotion (Pharmacode 2351293)
Hydralock (Pharmacode 2696940) Dimethicone 5% cream listed
1 June 2026
HealthE dimethicone 5% cream delisted
Hydralock dimethicone 5% cream on PSS
HealthE dimethicone 4% lotion on PSS
Liquid paraffin 50% with white soft paraffin 50% ointment 100g
AFT brand (Pharmacode 2639114) is changing to Jaychem’s HealthE brand. HealthE will be listed in the HML from 1 March 2026 and will have Principal Supply Status from 1 August 2026.
AFT’s brand will be delisted on 1 August 2026.
The funded brand of loratadine will change between 1 January and 1 June 2026. Details and a patient flyer are available on the website.
Losartan with hydrochlorothiazide
The funded brand of Losartan with hydrochlorothiazide is changing. The new brand (Ipca) will be listed from 1 February 2026.
Between 1 January and 1 June 2026, varenicline will be changing brand from Champix to Pharmacor Varenicline. More details including a patient flyer are available on the website.
Updated medicine supply notices
Codeine (15 mg, 30 mg, 60 mg tablets) We have updated the supply status of codeine phosphate tablets.
Tab 15 mg: low stock
Tab 30 mg: no stock
Tab 60 mg: low stock
Efavirenz with emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil (Viatris) (Pharmacode: 2644967) Viatris advise the registered product should be available again during March 2026. A section 29 alternative is available.
Emtricitabine with tenofovir disoproxil (Pharmacode: 2638088) Tenofovir Disoproxil Emtricitabine Mylan, a section 29 alternative, will be listed from 1 January 2026. Viatris will supply it if the registered product runs out.
Estradot patches: reports of quality and efficacy concerns We've added further advice about the Estradot quality issues that Medsafe is investigating. Medsafe updated its medicine alert page on 3 December 2025.
Imiquimod cream (Pharmacode: 2715775) There has been a delay to the shipment of imiquimod. It is expected to arrive in New Zealand before Christmas but is unlikely to be released to wholesalers before early January 2026. We are seeking clinical advice on alternatives.
Insulin co-formulations The NZSSD guidance for a replacement for the Penmix30 mentions Novomix30. However, the Novomix30 will be discontinued later in 2026.
Levetiracetam oral liquid (Pharmacode: 2472406) There may be a complete out of stock of this product before it is resupplied. There's no direct alternative, however, in the past the oral liquid was compounded by pharmacies, using OraSweet or OraPlus.
Liraglutide (Victoza) Shipments of liraglutide continue to arrive. The supplier is increasing the amount of liraglutide that is sent out to wholesalers. However, pharmacies may not have stock available because there may not be enough stock to cover full demand. We are continuing to monitor this situation.
Methylphenidate Over the holiday period deliveries of methylphenidate may take longer because wholesalers and other parts of the supply chain will be closed at different times. As a controlled drug, there are also greater restrictions on transporting it.
Concerta: 27 mg out of stock, all other strengths available
Ritalin: All strengths available
Rubifen: All strengths available
Sandoz XR: All strengths available from 18 December
Teva: All strengths available, except 27 mg.
Nutricia: supply issue (Updated 19 December 2025)
Elemental 028 Extra | Summer fruits (Pharmacode 2450798)
Fortini Multi Fibre | Unflavoured (Pharmacode 2702819)
GMPro Ultra Lemonade (Pharmacode: 2657201)
HCU Lophlex LQ (Juicy Berries) Pharmacodes (2592096 and 2711478)
Nutrini Peptisorb Energy (Pharmacode: 2702479)
Nutrison Protein Plus MF | Hospital only (Pharmacode: 2148986)
PKU Lophlex powder | Unflavoured (Pharmacode: 2642999)
Polycal (Pharmacode: 408050)
Oxycodone oral liquid (Lucis) (Pharmacode: 2678500) The supplier will likely go out of stock of the oxycodone oral liquid. There is no direct alternative available. Resupply is expected in February 2026
Rosuvastatin (all strengths) Stock of all strengths of rosuvastatin is constrained and will likely be limited into January 2026.
Sodium cromoglicate (Ralicrom) Cap 100 mg (Pharmacode: 2628295) Somex S29, a section 29 alternative to Ralicrom, will be listed from 1 January 2026.
Ultraproct (suppositories and ointment) We have received clinical advice that Proctosedyl may a suitable funded alternative. It is available as both a suppository (Pharmacode 208396) and an ointment (Pharmacode 208388).
Zinc (Zincaps) 50 mg capsule (Pharmacode: 258253) Supply of Zincaps s29 will not last until the registered product is available again. We have found another alternative (Rugby Zinc). It will be funded from 1 January 2026.
Resolved issues
None
Note: Supply issues are marked as resolved one week after when the supplier has product available. It can take another 1 to 2 weeks for stock to reach pharmacies around the motu.
Recent decisions and open consultations
Proposal to change the provider of national storage and distribution services for funded vaccines (closes 22 December 2025)
Monthly updates