Pharmac

Please see below updates from Pharmac.

Funding changes

1. Widening of Access: Rosuvastatin removal of Special Authority

Reminder of Coversyl change of salt

1. Perindopril erbumine to Perindopril arginine 

Reminder of discontinuation

1. Epilim tab 100mg crushable 

1. Widening of Access: Rosuvastatin removal of Special Authority From 1 October 2026, rosuvastatin no longer requires a Special Authority for patients to receive funded access. This means it is open listed and may be prescribed funded to any New Zealander when clinically appropriate.

For patients who have been self-funding rosuvastatin, funded access is now available without a Special Authority. Any new prescription written from 1 October 2026 can be dispensed as a subsidised medicine.

Unfortunately, this does not apply to repeats from prescriptions written before 1 October 2026. Due to the way pharmacy claims are processed, patients with remaining repeats on an existing self-funded prescription will need a new prescription from their prescriber to receive funded treatment.

1.Reminder of Coversyl tablets change of salt Due to global alignment and to ensure continuity of supply, Coversyl containing perindopril erbumine will be replaced with Coversyl containing perindopril arginine.

This is a permanent change to the arginine salt.

• Please transition your patients currently on Coversyl 2 mg and 8 mg tablets to the equivalent perindopril arginine strengths (Coversyl 2.5 mg and 10 mg respectively) from now.

• Coversyl 4 mg tablets will remain available longer. Please transition these patients to the equivalent Coversyl 5mg tablets from late October.

• Pharmacies have been asked to stock both salts. Perindopril erbumine can provide continuity for patients with repeat prescriptions, while perindopril arginine can be allocated to new prescriptions.

• More information can be found Coversyl on Pharmac website

  
  

1.Reminder of discontinuation: Sodium valproate (Epilim) 100mg crushable tabletsThe supplier Sanofi has notified Pharmac of the discontinuation of sodium valproate (Epilim brand) 100mg crushable tablets. Please transition affected patients to an alternative treatment as soon as possible. For more information see Epilim discontinuation on Pharmac website

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If you have any questions regarding these updates, please contact enquiry@pharmac.govt.nz.

Ngā mihi,

Pharmac Implementation Team

Pharmac | Te Pātaka Whaioranga

PO Box 10-254, Wellington 6140 | Level 9, 40 Mercer Street, Wellington 6011P: 0800 660 050 | www.pharmac.govt.nz