Pharmac - Supply Update
Contents
Decision to expand Extended Pharmacy Services (EPS)
From 1 October 2026 the range of funded medicines community pharmacies can provide directly to people in their communities will be expanded further to include:
Treatments for children with mild dermatitis
Treatments for children with bacterial and fungal skin infections
Treatments for children with oral thrush
Treatments for vaginal thrush
Selected oral contraceptives
Health New Zealand will fund consultations provided by community pharmacies for eligible people, and Pharmaceutical Schedule will be amended to allow Direct Provision by Pharmacists in accordance with their pharmacy agreement.
Pharmacies who choose to offer this service will be funded by Health New Zealand to provide consultations and service uses will be required to pay a user fee.
Prescription Copayments would still be payable, unless the Service User is exempt, for medicines supplied as part of an Expanded Pharmacy Service.
A note will be added to Section B of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 October 2026 to allow pharmacies to supply the additional funded medicines directly to the following groups of people without a prescription when providing an Integrated Community Pharmacy Services Agreement (ICPSA) Extended Pharmacy Service.
New supply notices |
Brand change: Entecavir (0.5 mg tablets)
The funded brand is changing from Entecavir (Rex) (Pharmacode: 2654431) to Entecavir Sandoz (Pharmacode: 2549301). Sandoz is funded from 1 October. Rex will stop being funded from 1 March 2027. A picture and a downloadable flyer are available on the website.
Updated supply notices
Fluconazole (150 mg cap)
We have funded APO Health Fluconazole One (S29) (Pharmacode: 2735016) from 1 October 2026 to support this supply issue.
Insulins: upcoming discontinuations
We have added the dates that the Eli Lilley insulin vials will stop being funded.
Methylphenidate
18 mg Teva is out of stock. All other strengths and brands are available. Rubifen LA is funded from 1 October 10 and 20 mg strengths are available to order now. Other strengths will be available later.
Oestradiol (Estradot) 100 mcg patch
A shipment of patches (Pharmacode: 2358883) arrived mid-September and should be available from wholesalers now. A further shipment is expected in October 2026.
Omeprazole (Inj 40 mg ampoule)
The supplier expects to start supplying the approved Dr Reddy's (Pharmacode: 2310201) product during October 2026. Ocicure (Pharmacode 2586908) will remain in the market until Dr Reddy's is supplied again.
Consultations & Notifications
Proposal to widen access to febuxostat to treat gout (closes 30 September 2026)
Monthly updates