Pharmac Update: Primary Care Prescribers | 21 November 2025
- admin82291
- Nov 24
- 3 min read
Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 21 November 2025. It includes information on:
Pharmac funding both Estradot and Estradiol TDP Mylan brands of oestradiol patches
From 1 December 2025, the funded brands of oestradiol patches will be Estradiol TDP Mylan and Estradot. Everyone who uses funded oestradiol patches will need to use either of these brands.
The following brands of oestradiol patches will be delisted on 1 December 2025:
Lyllana
Estradiol Sandoz
Estradiol Viatris
Estraderm MX
Please ensure you have transferred patients to either Estradiol TDP Mylan or Estradot.
Pharmac have created an on-line portal where GP practices can order (free of charge) oestradiol flyers s to help with informing patients about this change. These can be ordered via the Bluestar order form for A5 patient fliers (external link). The flyer can be also seen on our website. Oestradiol flyer [PDF, 508 KB]
Brand Change: fulvestrant inj 50 mg per ml, 5 ml prefilled syringe.
Fulvestrant EVER Pharma brand of fulvestrant inj 50 mg per ml, 5 ml prefilled syringe will be listed on the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 December 2025 and awarded Principal Supply Status (the main funded brand) from 1 May 2026 to 30 June 2028. The current brand Faslodex will be delisted 1 May 2026.
Fulvestrant EVER Pharma is currently being supplied to the Australian market. It has a non-refrigerated storage requirement - store at room temperature below 25oC until ready for use. Store in the original package. This may be an advantage for some people. Faslodex must be stored in the fridge.
There have been no identifiable concerns raised with the generic fulvestrant products in Australia. The Exceptional Circumstances pathway to consider funding an alternate brand is available for those patients who are unable to make the transition for clinical reasons.
More information and support for patients, including a downloadable patient leaflet, can be found here - Fulvestrant: Your brand is changing and on the Healthify webpage -Fulvestrant information (external link).
Potential supply issue: Oxycodone hydrochloride Oral liquid 1mg per ml
Stock of the oxycodone liquid is constrained due to the previous immediate release tablet supply issue. For patients who have been switched to Oxycodone 1mg/1ml oral liquid due to the shortage of the immediate release tablets, please revert them back to a tablet formulation when able.
Supply issue update: podophyllotoxin (Condyline) solution 0.5%
As previously communicated, there has been a delay with a recent shipment of Condyline. The alternative Section 29 product (French packaging) has arrived. More of the NZ Medsafe approved product will be shipped to New Zealand in January 2026.
Update on Methylphenidate Sandoz XR
There has been a brief delay on the arrival of the new brand of methylphenidate, Methylphenidate Sandoz XR, which is funded from 1 December 2025: Decision to fund a new brand of methylphenidate hydrochloride. The supplier will be able to start releasing stock from the end of November. This means pharmacies might not be able to order stock from wholesalers until mid-December 2025.
We appreciate your patience, the supplier is working hard to get this product out to New Zealand.
Proposal to fund another brand of methylphenidate for ADHD
Pharmac is seeking feedback on a proposal to fund another brand of methylphenidate - Rubifen LA - to help ease ongoing supply issues and provide more treatment options for people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
If approved, this brand would be funded from 1 July 2026.
We welcome your feedback. Consultation is open until 5 pm, Thursday 4 December 2025. Please send your feedback to consult@pharmac.govt.nz or use the online form linked in the consultation.
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.
Codeine phosphate (Noumed) Tab 30 mg
Pamidronate disodium (Pamisol) Inj 3 mg per ml, 10 ml
Sucrose Oral liq 25% (Biomed)
