Pharmac Update: Primary Care Prescribers
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Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 31 July 2026. It includes information on:
New updates:
Coversyl tablets change of salt: Perindopril erbumine to Perindopril arginine Due to global alignment and to ensure continuity of supply, Coversyl containing perindopril erbumine will be replaced with Coversyl containing perindopril arginine.
The new Perindopril arginine tablets will be listed (funded) from 1 September 2026
Please transition your patients currently on Coversyl 2 mg and 8 mg tablets to the equivalent perindopril arginine (Coversyl 2.5 mg and 10 mg respectively) from 1 September.
Coversyl 4 mg tablets will remain available longer. Please transition these patients to the equivalent Coversyl 5mg tablets from October.
Pharmacist substitution between erbumine and arginine strengths is not possible due to different labelled strengths.
Perindopril erbumine and perindopril arginine salts are bioequivalent and interchangeable. The active moiety (perindopril) remains unchanged.
Because the two salts have different molecular weights, the labelled tablet strengths will change, while delivering the same amount of active perindopril.
More information, images, and a downloadable patient information leaflet can be found Coversyl on Pharmac website
Dose equivalence table
Current product (perindopril erbumine) | To | New product (perindopril arginine) |
1 tablet COVERSYL® 2 mg |
| 1 tablet COVERSYL® 2.5 mg |
1 tablet COVERSYL® 4 mg |
| 1 tablet COVERSYL® 5 mg |
1 tablet COVERSYL® 8 mg |
| 1 tablet COVERSYL® 10 mg |
Supply issue: oestradiol 100mcg patch (Estradot brand)
Sandoz, the supplier has advised stock of the oestradiol 100mcg patches (Estradot brand) is very low and may run out. The Estradot 25 mcg, 50 mcg, 75 mcg strengths are not currently affected. All strengths of the Estradiol TDP Mylan brand are available.
Please consider whether the 100-mcg Estradiol TDP Mylan brand is a suitable alternative for your patients.
Pharmac also funds other oestradiol treatments including gel (Estrogel) and tablets (Estrofem, Progynova), which are not affected by the supply issue and may be suitable for some people. Any changes in treatment would require a new prescription before they can be supplied by your pharmacy.
We expect Estradot 100 mcg to be available again by early September.
There is still a global supply issue affecting Estradot patches and supply of Estradot could be disrupted again.
We have secured as much Estradot as the supplier is able to provide. However, there may be times when there is not enough Estradot for everyone who needs it.
For further details, refer to the Pharmac supply notices
Supply issue: erythromycin (as lactobionate) inj 1 g vial
There is a supply issue affecting Erythromycin (as lactobionate) inj 1 g vial (Erythrocin IV). To ensure continuity of supply, from 1 August 2026, Pharmac has listed alternate products erythromycin 1 g vial (Amdipharm) and erythromycin 500 mg vial (Eritrotex) on the community Schedule.
Both the alternate products are not Medsafe approved and should be prescribed and supplied in line with Section 29A of the Medicines Act. This has implications for funded supply on BSO and rural PSO – see Medsafe’s website.
Supply issue: tetracycline 250mg tablets
There is a supply issue affecting tetracycline 250mg tablets (Tetracycline Accord).
To ensure continuity of supply, from 1 August 2026, Pharmac will list (fund) an alternate product Tetracycline AA 250 mg capsules.
The alternate brand, Tetracycline AA, is not a Medsafe approved product and should be prescribed and supplied in line with Section 29 of the Medicines Act. The funded indication and subsidy restrictions remain unchanged.
Supply issue: testosterone undecanoate 40 mg capsules (Steril-Gene)
Pharmac is managing a supply issue affecting testosterone undecanoate 40 mg capsules (Steril-Gene).
Stock is expected to become limited before the next shipment arrives in late September and there may be a brief period when stock is unavailable.
Pharmac are working with the supplier to bring further stock into New Zealand as soon as possible.
If your patient is unable to access stock, please consider a suitable alternative product.
Pharmac funds other testosterone treatments which may be suitable alternatives for many people. These include a testosterone transdermal gel (Testogel) and testosterone injections (Sustanon).
Further information will be added to our webpage as updates become available – Testosterone undecanoate (Steril-Gene) 40 mg capsules: Supply issue.
Consultation open on the draft 2026/27 Invitation to TenderPharmac is seeking feedback from medical groups, hospital pharmacies and interested parties on:
A proposal to tender certain pharmaceuticals for principal supply;
Potential brand changes for the proposed pharmaceuticals; and
The draft process and terms and conditions for the 2026/27 Invitation to Tender.
Please refer to the Consultation and Draft 2026/27 Invitation to Tender. Feedback is to be submitted via the 2026/27 Invitation to Tender feedback form by Thursday 10 September 2026.
Resolved supply issues: Supply issues are marked as resolved when stock arrives in the country and is released to wholesalers. After this, it can take another 1-2 weeks for pharmacies to receive stock, depending on where they are located around New Zealand.
Buprenorphine with naloxone (BNM) Tab sublingual 2 mg with naloxone 0.5 mg
