Pharmac Update: Primary Care Prescribers | 20 March 2026
- Mar 23
- 3 min read
Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 20 March 2026. It includes information on:
Enoxaparin inj 100 mg per ml (1 ml syringe) (Clexane)
For Primary Response in Medical Emergencies PRIME services
Only the Enoxaparin inj 100 mg per ml (1 ml syringe) is funded on a Practitioner Supply Order (PSO) with an endorsement limiting funding to PRIME indications. Other strengths of enoxaparin are not funded on a PSO for PRIME indications.
Supply issue: fumetasone pivalate ear drops (Locorten-Vioform)
The supplier of flumetasone pivalate ear drops (Locorten-Vioform) has advised that it will be out of stock from late March 2026 until at least August 2026.
Kenacomb ear drops are available as a potential funded alternative. Sofradex is also available as an alternative, however, it is only partially funded. Please note, these are different products and will require a new prescription. More information is available on the Pharmac website: Flumetasone pivalate (Locorten-Vioform) ear drops: Supply issue
Supply issue: hydrocortisone with cinchocaine (Proctosedyl) suppository. New alternative listed – Scheriproct suppository.The supplier (AFT) has informed Pharmac that due to a delayed shipment that Proctosedyl suppositories are out of stock. Ultraproct suppositories have also been out of stock for a long period. Pharmac has sourced an alternate product. Scheriproct suppositories have been listed (funded) on the Pharmaceutical Schedule. Scheriproct suppositories will be available in New Zealand by the end of March.
The active ingredients in Scheriproct suppositories are cinchocaine hydrocholoride 1mg + prednisolone hexanoate 1.3mg This product needs to be supplied and dispensed in line with Section 29A of the Medicines Act.
Supply issue: ticagrelor tab 90 mg (Sandoz)Due to shipping delays, Sandoz expects to run out of ticagrelor 90mg tab by mid-March 2026. An alternative brand Ticagrelor Mylan 90mg tab was listed from 1 March 2026. This is not a Medsafe approved product and will need to be prescribed and dispensed in line with Section 29A of the Medicines Act.
Ticagrelor Mylan is from the Italian market. The box will be over labelled with English text, and the blister packs will have some Italian text. For more information and images please see – Ticagrelor on Pharmac website
Discontinuation: efavirenz tablets (Efavirenz Milpharm 600 mg)This is a reminder that this medicine will be discontinued and no longer funded from 1 November 2026. We expect stock to run out September 2026.
Anyone still using efavirenz will need to change to an alternative funded antiretroviral medicine. If you require NHI numbers to identify patients on efavirenz, please email Data-Enquiries data-enquiries@health.govt.nz
Pharmac seeks feedback on the Exceptional Circumstances Framework
We are getting in touch to let you know that Pharmac is seeking feedback on the Exceptional Circumstances Framework (the Framework), and we’d like to hear from you.
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 is no longer fit for purpose and can be difficult to understand and navigate. The Framework requires improvements and refinement to better meet the needs of those who use it.
Pharmac will use a range of methods to gather feedback and insights. We have published a detailed Discussion Document on our website and have a survey available on Citizen Space. You can also share any additional information or perspectives that are important to you but not covered in the questions.
You are invited to review the information on the website and submit your comments through Citizen Space:
Please note that all pathways within the current Framework will continue to operate during the review, and there will be no changes to how applications are assessed while consultation is underway.
Please feel free to share this consultation with anyone you think may wish to make a submission. Submissions are open until 5pm on 7 June.
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.
Chloramphenicol (Devatis) Eye oint 1%
Midazolam (Pfizer) Inj 1 mg per ml, 5 ml plastic ampoule
Mometasone furoate (Elocon) Ointment
