Pharmac Update: Primary Care Prescribers | 17 July 2026
- Jul 20
- 2 min read
Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 17 July 2026. It includes information on:
17-07-2026 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 has worked closely with the supplier to source alternative brands of candesartan. These are arriving in small shipments.
Some of the alternative brands are not Medsafe approved 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.
Discontinuation: Cardinol LA cap 160mg
The supplier Viatris has discontinued supply of Cardinol LA cap 160mg in NZ. An alternative Propranolol Lupin S29 will be funded from 1 August 2026.
From 1 August 2026 stat dispensing will be removed from propranolol LA cap 160mg. Monthly dispensing will help to preserve stock until the supply chain is stable.
The alternate brand is not a Medsafe approved product and should be prescribed and supplied in line with Section 29A of the Medicines Act.
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.
Betamethasone dipropionate (Diprosone) Crm 0.05% (15g)
Betamethasone dipropionate (Diprosone) Oint 0.05% (50g)
Ceftriaxone (AFT) Inj 1 g vial
Colestyramine (Colestyramine - Mylan) Powder for oral suspension 4 g sachet
Levodopa with carbidopa (Sinemet) Tab 100 mg with carbidopa 25 mg
Morphine hydrochloride (RA Morph) Oral liq 10 mg per ml
Nystatin (Kenacomb Ear Drops 7.5ml) Oral liq 100,000 u per ml
Oestradiol (Estradiol TDP Mylan) Patch 75 mcg per day
Pregabalin (Lyrica) Cap 300 mg
Temozolomide (Temaccord) Cap 140 mg
