top of page

Pharmac Update: Primary Care Prescribers | 15 May 2026

  • May 18
  • 3 min read

Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 15 May 2026. It includes information on: 



Supply issue - Itraconazole (Itrazole) cap 100 mg


Due to manufacturing delays, a supply issue is affecting itraconazole 100 mg capsules. An alternative product Itraconazole Crescent was listed in 2025.This product is not Medsafe approved and will need to be prescribed and dispensed in line with section 29A of the Medicines Act.


Brand Change: testosterone undecanoate inj 250 mg per ml, (Reandron) to new brand (Gonadron)


The Gonadron brand of testosterone undecanoate inj 250 mg per ml is to be listed (funded) from 1 June 2026 on the Community Schedule and in Health NZ hospitals. Testosterone undecanoate inj 250 mg per ml (Reandron) brand will be delisted (no longer funded) 1 November 2026.


The active ingredients and excipients are the same as the Reandron brand.


Consultation open - proposal to widen access to diabetes medicines


Pharmac is seeking feedback on a proposal to widen access to three funded medicines for people with type 2 diabetes.


Under the proposal, access to empagliflozin, liraglutide and dulaglutide would be widened so more people at high clinical risk can access these medicines earlier in their treatment. The proposal aims to support better long‑term management of diabetes and reduce the risk of serious heart and kidney complications.


We are now inviting feedback on this proposal.


Consultation is open until 5pm, 28 May 2026. You can provide feedback by emailing consult@pharmac.govt.nz, or by using the online form linked in the consultation document. Please feel free to share this consultation with others who may be interested. 


Please feel free to share this consultation with others who may be interested. 

Consultation: 3 weeks to go to provide feedback on the Exceptional Circumstances Framework There are three weeks left to provide your feedback on Pharmac’s Exceptional Circumstances Framework, an opportunity to help shape its future direction and how it operates in practice!

The Framework outlines how Pharmac considers funding requests for people with exceptional clinical circumstances when those circumstances fall outside the Pharmaceutical Schedule funding process.


Patients, whānau, clinicians, and others have told us that the current Framework can be difficult to understand and navigate. We have heard that improvements are needed to ensure it better meets the needs of those who use it.


Pharmac is using a range of approaches to gather feedback and insights. A detailed Discussion Document is available on our website, alongside an online survey. The survey includes both general and more specific questions, and you are welcome to respond to those most relevant to you.


You can also provide additional feedback on issues that are important to you but may not be covered in the survey. We encourage you to use the survey where possible, as this helps us capture and consider your feedback effectively.



We encourage you to share details of this consultation with others who may wish to provide feedback. Submissions close at 5pm on 7 June.


You can join an online webinar - Webinar for clinicians


If you have any questions or would like to meet to discuss the review, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.


You may receive more than one email about this review as we are using a range of channels to ensure broad awareness. We appreciate your understanding.


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.


  • Heparinised saline (Pfizer) Inj 10 iu per ml, 5

  • Imiquimod (Padagis) Crm 5%, 250 mg sachet

  • Linezolid (Zyvox) Oral liq 20 mg per

  • Oestradiol (Estradot) Patch 75 mcg per

  • Somatropin (Omnitrope) (Omnitrope) Inj 5 mg

  • Testosterone esters (Sustanon 250) Inj 250mg per ml, 1ml ampule

  • Ticagrelor (Ticagrelor Sandoz) Tab 90 mg



bottom of page