Pharmac Update: Primary Care Prescribers | 10 July 2026
- 7 hours ago
- 3 min read
Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 10 July 2026. It includes information on:
10-07-2026 Pharmac Weekly Update to Prescribers in Primary Care
Supply issue: candesartan (Candestar) (all strengths)
Issues at the supplier's manufacturing site have led to limited supply of the funded brand of candesartan tablets in New Zealand.
Pharmac is working closely with the supplier to urgently source alternative brands of candesartan. Some of these brands need to be relabelled into New Zealand-approved packaging before they can be distributed, which is causing additional delays.
Some of the alternative brands are not a Medsafe approved products and should be prescribed and supplied in line with Section 29A of the Medicines Act
For further details, refer to the Candesartan on Pharmac website.
Supply issue: Valaciclovir tab 500mg (Vaclovir)
An alternate brand Valaciclovir Viatris tab 500mg tab has been funded from 1 July 2026. Demand for Valaciclovir 500 mg tablets (Vaclovir) increased as a result of ongoing shortages of the 1000 mg tablet presentation. Alternate brands have been funded for both strengths. These are not Medsafe approved products and should be prescribed and supplied in line with Section 29A of the Medicines Act.
Valaciclovir Viatris tab 500mg tab has some French text on the blister packaging and has been repackaged into boxes with English text. See our webpage for images – Valaciclovir on Pharmac webpage
Supply issue: TruSteel Infusion Sets
There is a global supply constraint affecting TruSteel infusion sets due to issues at a component supplier. It affects all four funded TruSteel infusion set products.
Pharmac funds Autosoft infusion sets, and these are compatible with the Tandem pumps and are not impacted by this supply issue.
Given the limited TruSteel supply available, we strongly encourage prescribers to reserve TruSteel products for priority patient groups and, wherever clinically appropriate, proactively transition patients to an Autosoft product.
The New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD) and the Diabetes National Clinical Network (Mahitahi Matehuka) has provided clinical advice identifying patient groups who they recommended should be prioritised for the limited TruSteel stock- Recommendations regarding TruSteel Infusion Set Shortage|NZSSD
The supplier, NZMS, has published guidance and support material to assist patients transitioning to Autosoft infusion sets. Further information is available on their website - Transitioning from TruSteel to AutoSoft Infusion Sets | NZMS Diabetes.
Reminder of insulin discontinuations:
Eli Lilly are discontinuing 3 insulins in the 10ml vial presentation. The 3ml penfill presentations remain available. Please transition patients to a suitable alternative.
Insulin Type | Brand | Presentation | Date supplier stops selling to wholesalers |
Insulin lispro | Humalog | Inj 100 u per ml, 10 ml vial | End July 2026 |
Insulin isophane | Humulin NPH | Inj human 100 u per ml, 10 ml vial | End August 2026 |
Insulin isophane with insulin neutral | Humulin 30/70 | Inj human with neutral insulin 100 u per ml, 10 ml vial | This was end of June 2026 (there may still be stock in the supply chain.) |
NovoNordisk are rationalising their product range and discontinuing three insulins from the 3ml penfill range. Stock of the Penmix 30 penfill 3 ml was depleted in April 2026.
Insulin Type | Brand | Presentation | Date supplier stops selling to wholesalers |
Insulin aspart with insulin aspart protamine | NovoMix30 | FlexPen 3 ml prefilled disposable pen | End of 2026 |
Insulin neutral | Actrapid | Penfill 3ml | End of 2026 |
Insulin isophane | Protaphane | Penfill 3ml | End of 2026 |
Please transition patients to a suitable alternative. There is information regarding use of insulin and changes in the supply of various insulins. NZSSD PDF -external link
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.
Alfacalcidol (One-Alpha) Cap 0.25 mcg
Chlorpromazine hydrochloride (Largactil) Inj 25 mg per ml, 2 ml
Clonidine hydrochloride (Catapres) Inj 150 mcg per ml, 1 ml ampoule
Etoposide (Vepesid) Cap 50 mg
High fat formla (Ketocal 4:1 (unflavoured)) Powder (unflavoured)
Ispaghula (psyllium) husk (Konsyl-D) Powder
Paediatric oral feed 1kcal/ml (Pediasure (chocolate)) Liquid (chocolate)
Salbutamol (Ventolin) Inj 500 mcg per ml, 1 ml ampoule
