Pharmac Update: Primary Care Prescribers | 17 October 2025
- admin82291
- Oct 20
- 3 min read
Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 17 October 2025. It includes information on:
Pharmac has confirmed changes to Special Authority renewal requirements for selected medicines and products.From 1 December 2025, Pharmac will remove the need to renew Special Authority approvals for the following treatments:
Insulin pump consumables for type 1 diabetes
Continuous glucose monitors (interoperable and standalone) for type 1 diabetes
Long-acting Muscarinic Antagonists with Long-acting Beta-Adrenoceptor Agonists (LAMA/LABA inhalers) for respiratory conditions
Epoetin alfa for chronic renal failure
Budesonide capsules for Crohn’s disease and microscopic colitis
Febuxostat for gout
More information about Pharmac’s decision is available at:
Supply issue: testosterone cipionate Inj 100 mg per ml, 10 ml vial (Depo-Testosterone)
The supplier Pfizer has informed us that, Depo-Testosterone will be in short supply from mid-November to mid-December 2025. Pfizer has been unable to find an alternative bioequivalent product. Please consider not starting any new patients on Depo-Testosterone for the supply issue period.
Clinical advice has told us - prescribers may wish to consider alternative funded testosterone products such as Reandron 1000 vial and Sustanon 250. Sustanon 250 contains arachis (peanut) oil so is not suitable for people with a nut allergy.
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. Medsafe has approved a labelling exemption for a German product. The product should be available to order by the end of October 2025. The product is identical and will be re-packaged into a New Zealand carton. The ampoule product name and strength is in English but the remainder text is in German. Resupply of the regular product is estimated in late November. For graphics, see: Oxytocin (inj 10 iu per ml): Supply issue.
Supply issue update: podophyllotoxin (Condyline) solution 0.5%
As previously communicated, there has been a delay with a recent shipment of Condyline. The supplier, AFT, is now out of stock with limited stock remaining at wholesalers. More stock will be shipped to New Zealand in January 2026.
An alternative Section 29 product from France was listed on the Schedule from 1 October 2025. Shipment of this alternative has been delayed, and it is now not expected to be available in New Zealand until late October 2025.
Supply issue update: zinc sulphate (Zincaps) Capsules 50mg
The supplier Arrotex is now out of stock of Zincaps, and wholesalers have low levels of 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 late- 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.
Global Supply issue: Methylphenidate presentations
The worldwide shortage of methylphenidate continues. Our webpage has information - Expected shipments of methylphenidate
Discontinuation: MiniMed Mio Infusion sets
This is a reminder that MiniMed Mio Infusion sets are being discontinued by the supplier. These infusion sets are for use with MiniMed insulin pump, which has already been delisted from the Schedule.
1 February 2026 is the new date for delist of MiniMed Mio Infusion sets. (This replaces the initial 1 October 2026 delist date) The supplier has sold out of all presentations of the Minimed Mio Infusion Sets. There may be some stock available at wholesalers and pharmacies and these will run out soon.
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.
Dimethicone (healthE Dimethicone 10%) Crm 10% pump bottle
Framycetin sulphate (Soframycin) Ear/eye drops 0.5%
Hydrocortisone butyrate (Locoid) Various 0.1%
