Pharmac Update: Primary Care Prescribers | 19 June 2026
- Jun 24
- 3 min read
Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 19 June 2026. It includes information on:
Supply issue: Bicillin LA injection
The supplier of Benzathine benzylpenicillin (Bicillin LA) Inj 900 mg (1.2 million units) in 2.3 ml syringe, has notified Pharmac that due to production issues arrival of the next shipment will be significantly delayed.
Key Dates:
The supplier has enough stock of Bicillin LA in New Zealand to supply wholesalers until late July.
The next shipment is not expected until mid-November 2026. This means that supply of Bicillin LA will be constrained and may not be available from the start of August to mid-November.
We have sourced an alternative Benzathine benzylpenicillin (Inj 900 mg (1.2 million units) Benzetacil vial. This product is already listed on the pharmaceutical schedule.
Although Benzetacil is currently shown on the Pharmaceutical Schedule as a Section 29 medicine this medicine has received provisional consent under section 23 of the Medicines act from 2 June 2026. The Section 29 note will be removed from the Schedule on 1 July 2026.
Because Benzetacil has been granted Provisional Consent under Section 23 of the Medicines Act it can be used under both PSO and standing orders, Pharmac will add Benzetacil to the PSO list from 1 July 2026.
Key messages:
Bicillin LA inj, is a prefilled syringe ready for use.
The alternative brand Benzetacil vial is a powder for injection, requiring reconstitution.
Benzetacil - Once reconstituted, the final volume is 4.8 ml
Note the difference in final volume Bicillin LA is 2.3ml and Benzetacil is 4.8ml. (The total dosage remains the same.)
Please reserve Bicillin stock for paediatric patients and those deemed a priority for a lower volume injection.
Our webpage has further information Bicillin Inj on Pharmac website
Stock available: fluocortolone caproate with fluocortolone pivalate and cinchocaine (Ultraproct) Ointment
Ultraproct Ointment is now available. This had been a long out of stock period due to a change in manufacturing site.
Supply issue: efavirenz with emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil combination tablet.
There is a long-term supply issue affecting efavirenz with emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil. In July 2025, Pharmac funded the TEEVIR Section 29 product as an alternative. This stock is now running low and is expected to be unavailable by late June.
To maintain continuity of supply, Pharmac has funded another Section 29 alternative: Tenofovir Efavirenz Emtricitabine (Mylan). This was funded from 12 June. As this is a Section 29 product, it must be prescribed and supplied in accordance with Section 29 of the Medicines Act.
On 1 June 2026, Pharmac listed (funded) the TEEVIR (India) Section 29 product; However, this product is not currently available.
Further information will be added to our webpage as updates become available - Efavirenz with emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil (Viatris): Supply issue
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.
Adalimumab (Amgevita) Inj 40 mg per 0.8 ml prefilled pen
Bedaquiline (Sirturo) Tab 100 mg
Calamine Crm, aqueous, BP
Chlortalidone (Hygroton) Tab 25 mg
Daunorubicin (Pfizer) 18.7 mg vial
Dexamethasone phosphate Inj 4 mg per ml, 2 ml ampoule
Doxorubicin hydrochloride (Doxorubicin Ebewe) 2 mg per ml 100 ml vial
Droperidol (Medsurge) Inj 2.5 mg per ml, 1 ml ampoule
Morphine sulphate (Medsurge) Inj 30 mg per ml, 1 ml ampoule
Pamidronate disodium (Pamisol) Inj 3 mg per ml, 10 ml vial
Tranexamic acid (Mercury Pharma) Tab 500 mg
