Pharmac Update: Primary Care Prescribers | 20 February 2026
- 13 hours ago
- 5 min read
Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 20 February 2026. It includes information on:
Improving access to treatments in the community for trauma and medical emergencies, and ketamine for palliative care
From 1 March 2026, the following treatments will be available and funded on the Community Schedule:
For Primary Response in Medical Emergencies PRIME services
Droperidol inj 2.5 mg per ml (1 ml ampoule)
Glucose inj 5% (100 ml bag)
Glucose inj 10% (500 ml bag)
Ketamine inj 100 mg per ml (2 ml vial)
Methoxyflurane solution for inhalation 999 mg per g (3 ml bottle and plastic inhaler, and 3 ml bottles)
Tranexamic acid inj 100 mg per ml (10 ml ampoule)
Enoxaparin inj 100 ml per ml (1 ml syringe)
These treatments will be funded on a Practitioner Supply Order (PSO) with an endorsement limiting funding to PRIME indications.
Ketamine for intractable pain in people receiving palliative care
Ketamine inj 100mg/ml (2ml vial) will be also listed on the Community Schedule for the treatment of intractable pain in people receiving palliative care in community settings, including hospices, rest homes, and for people living at home
Practitioners will no longer need to apply for funding through the Named Patient Pharmaceutical Assessment (NPPA) exceptional circumstances pathway for this indication.
Ketamine injection does not have Medsafe approval for subcutaneous administration or for intractable pain in palliative care. It must be prescribed and used in accordance with section 25 of the Medicines Act 1981 (external link).
The Australia New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine (ANZSPM) and Hospice NZ have published Aotearoa Specialist Adult Palliative Care guidelines which provide clinical guidance regarding the use of ketamine for intractable pain for people receiving palliative care (monograph page 157, protocol page 194). There is also a short section on ketamine in the associated Palliative Care Handbook (page 133). Further education is being commissioned via bpacnz.
Supply issue: olanzapine tab orodispersible 10 mg (Zypine)Due to manufacturing and shipping delays, the supplier Viatris expects to run out of olanzapine orodispersible tablets 10mg before the next shipment arrives (estimated mid-March)
Viatris has arranged two alternative products which will be funded from 1 March to cover any shortages.
Olanzapina Mylan Pharma (with Italian label)
Olanzapina Mylan (with Polish label)
Note the boxes will be over labelled in English but the blisters will have non-English text.
Images can be seen here – Olanzapine ODT 10mg on Pharmac website
Viatris has confirmed they are the same formulation, and the tablets have the same appearance as the current NZ registered stock.
Both brands do not have Medsafe approval and will need to be supplied in line with Section 29A of the Medicines Act.
Supply issue: teriparatide inj 250 mcg per ml, 2.4 ml (Teva)The supplier Teva has advised Pharmac that it is unable to supply teriparatide injection from the end of February 2026. The resupply date is not yet confirmed.
An alternate brand Forteo will be available and funded from 1 March 2026. This brand was previously supplied to the New Zealand market from 2011 to 2024. This Forteo product is supplied to the USA market. The pen device contains the same 28 doses, at the same strength and has the same mechanism as the current Teva product, and previously supplied Forteo product. The USA product has slightly different labelling to the prior Forteo product, and is not Medsafe approved, so will need to be supplied in line with S29A of the Medicines Act.
Images and more information can be seen on our webpage - Teriparatide inj on Pharmac website
Brand Change & PSO change: Furosemide Inj 10 mg per ml, 2 ml ampouleFurosemide Inj 10 mg per ml, 2 ml ampoule Baxter brand will be replaced with the AFT brand from 1 March 2026.
The PSO quantity will be increased from 5 to 10 ampoules for furosemide inj 10 mg per ml, 2 ml from 1 March 2026 to align with the AFT pack size.
Discontinuation: Sensocard blood glucose test stripsThe supplier has advised Pharmac that it is discontinuing Sensocard blood glucose test strips for visually impaired people. The last stock expired at the start of February 2026.
Pharmaco CareSens N is available as an alternative option. The test strips are funded, however the voice meter is not currently funded.
The supplier has advised it will source CareSens N Voice Blood Glucose Meters from Pharmaco to cover affected patients already using Sensocard, free of charge to the patient, and will liaise with pharmacies.
Discontinuation of iron as sucrose (Venofer)
New listing: ferric derisomaltose (Monofer)
Pharmac have been notified of the discontinuation of iron as sucrose (Venofer) (Hospital pharmacy only)
From 1 March 2026 ferric derisomaltose (Monofer) will be listed on the Hospital Medicines List (funding is restricted to people who have previously developed iron-infusion related hypophosphataemia or other severe adverse reaction.)
Ferric derisomaltose (Monofer) has a higher iron concentration than iron (as sucrose) (Venofer), enabling some people to receive their full treatment in a single infusion rather than multiple visits.
Proposal to fund two treatment combinations for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)
Pharmac is seeking feedback on a proposal to fund two new treatment combinations for people with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), a type of blood cancer.
Under this proposal, venetoclax with ibrutinib and venetoclax with obinutuzumab would be funded as first‑line treatment options from 1 May 2026. These combinations aim to give people access to targeted therapies earlier, supporting longer‑lasting remission and reducing the need for hospital visits.
We have heard from clinicians and the blood cancer community about the potential health benefits of using these combinations at the start of treatment. Around 80–90 people each year are expected to benefit from one of the two combinations over the next five years.We are now inviting feedback on this proposal via this link: Proposal to fund two medicine combinations for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL).
Consultation is open until 5pm, Wednesday 4 March. You can provide feedback by emailing consult@pharmac.govt.nz, or using the online form linked in the consultation document.
Pharmac is redeveloping the Pharmaceutical Schedule to be better aligned with modern funding arrangements and digital standards.
The Schedule was first published in 1994 and has grown significantly over the last three decades. As its scope has expanded, so has the complexity of the products and funding arrangements it needs to reflect. The digital systems that support the Schedule are also outdated and need replacing to ensure information can be updated quickly and consistently. We are proposing several changes, including:
moving to an online‑only Schedule with the capability to update as needed,
reorganising information into one integrated structure,
presenting clearer funding rules through new “funding pathways,” and
adopting national health information standards so products can be identified consistently across the system.
There are no proposed changes to how Pharmac makes funding decisions or to claiming processes.
For more information, follow this link: Changes to how the Pharmaceutical Schedule will work
We want your feedback
Your experience and insight will help us understand how these changes may affect people who use or rely on the Schedule, and what support may be needed during the transition
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.
Aciclovir (Livor) Tab dispersible 800 mg (Douglas)
Bisacodyl (Lax-Tab) Tab 5 mg (AFT)
Ceftriaxone (AFT) Inj 2 g vial (AFT)
citrate sodium anhydrous + citric acid anhydrous + sodium bicarbonate + tartaric acid (Ural) Grans eff 4g sachets (Aspen)
Folic acid Oral liq 50 mcg per ml (Biomed)
Haloperidol decanoate (Haldol) Inj 100 mg per ml, 1 ml (Clinect)
Imiquimod (Perrigo) Crm 5%, 250 mg sachet (Perrigo)
Nicotine (Habitrol) Gum 4 mg (Fruit) (Dr Reddys)
Nictoine (Habitrol) Gum 2 mg, and Lozenge 1 mg and 2 mg (Haleon)
