Pharmac Update: Primary Care Prescribers | 10 October 2025
- admin82291
- Oct 13
- 3 min read
Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 10 October 2025. It includes information on:
New updates:
Pharmac Decision: Changes to support increased prescription lengths
Please follow this link to the Pharmac decision regarding changes to the Pharmaceutical Schedule to support increased prescription lengths.
We want to make sure that everyone who needs to know about this decision is aware of it. Please share this information with people you think might be interested.
Supply issue update: Oxytocin BNM inj 10 iu per ml
Due to manufacturing delays, the supplier is expecting a constrained supply of oxytocin injection 10 iu per ml, 1 ml ampoule. The 5 iu per ml strength is not affected by this issue. The supplier is working closely with Medsafe and Pharmac to have a suitable alternative available. We are aware that oxytocin is often prescribed by midwives and so supplying a non Medsafe approved, Section 29 medicine is not appropriate. We ask people to conserve the 10 iu/ml strength of oxytocin wherever it is clinically safe and appropriate to do so. Updates will be posted on our website
Supply issue update: zinc sulphate (Zincaps) Capsules 50mg
The supplier Arrotex is now out of stock of Zincaps, and wholesalers have approximately two weeks stock remaining. The supplier has been able to improve timeframes for resupply and now expects more stock to arrive in New Zealand late November 2025.
The alternative Section 29 Zincaps was listed 1 October 2025, and stock has arrived in New Zealand. There is not enough stock of Section 29 Zincaps to cover the entire out of stock period. Pharmac is working with individual pharmacies to ensure supply is available for people with rare disorders.
Supply issue update: oxycodone hydrochloride (Oxycodone Amneal) tab immediate release
Pharmac has been advised the next delivery of oxycodone hydrochloride (Oxycodone Amneal) tab immediate release 5mg, 10mg and 20mg has been delayed further and will now be arriving mid- October.
Oxycodone Tab immediate release 5mg: Supplier out of stock
Oxycodone Tab immediate release 10mg & immediate release 20mg: There is a small amount of stock available at the wholesalers (the supplier is out of stock).
Oxycodone 5mg/5ml oral liquid: Stock is available.
Discontinuation: ketoprofen (Oruvail) SR Capsules 200mg
Sanofi is discontinuing supply of ketoprofen (Oruvail) SR Capsules 200mg. The estimated date for depletion of stock is 31 March 26. Please arrange for your affected patients to transition to another NSAID or alternative treatment. For more information, please see Oruvail on Pharmac website
Funding Discontinuation: ferrous sulfate (Ferrograd) tab long-acting 325 mg
Viatris has notified Pharmac that it is no longer supplying Ferrograd. Stock of funded ferrous sulfate (Ferrograd) tab long-acting 325 mg is expected to be exhausted shortly.
Our clinical advisors have told us that ferrous fumarate tablets (Ferro-tab) would meet the needs of the majority of people currently receiving Ferrograd. Please transition the people you are treating as soon as possible.
Note these tablets contain different levels of elemental iron and have different release characteristics. See NZF for clinical guidance on the prescribing of oral iron.
Pharmac is seeking to understand if there are individuals or groups of people for whom ferrous fumarate may not be appropriate. We would welcome any feedback. Email consult@pharmac.govt.nz
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.
Ascorbic acid (Cvite) Tab 100 mg
Diazoxide (Proglicem) Cap 100 mg
Ezetimibe 10mg with simvastatin 10mg (Zimybe) Tab
Flecainide acetate (Flecainide BNM) Tab 50 mg
Gentamicin sulphate (Pfizer) Inj 40 mg per ml, 2 ml ampoule
Ispaghula (psyllium) husk (Konsyl-D) Powder for oral soln
Linezolid (Zyvox) Oral liq 20 mg per ml (Pfizer
Macrogol 3350 with ascorbic acid, potassium chloride and sodium chloride (Molaxole) Powder for oral soln
Sodium citrate with sodium lauryl sulphoacetate (Micolette) Enema
Sotalol (Mylan) Tab 80 mg
