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Pharmac Update: Primary Care Prescribers | 23 January 2026


Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 23 January 2026. It includes information on: 



Supply issue: Duolin Nebuliser soln, salbutamol 2.5 mg with ipratropium bromide 0.5 mg per vial, 2.5 ml ampoule

Duolin nebules are in short supply. Rex the supplier has sourced an alternative product, to be listed (funded) from 1 February 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, (therefore not available on PSO.) 


  • This medicine is labelled albuterol sulfate instead of salbutamol sulphate. Albuterol is the USA official generic name for salbutamol.

  • Note - albuterol sulfate 3mg (equivalent to albuterol base 2.5mg) is equivalent to salbutamol 2.5mg

  • The alternative product is Albuterol 3 mg with ipratropium bromide 0.5 mg/ 3ml vial, brand name Cipla S29.

  • The supplier has over labelled the carton, and inner foil pack to replace the word albuterol with salbutamol, however the individual vials will still be labelled albuterol.


A webpage with a downloadable patient leaflet is available to help reassure patients about this brand change Duolin nebules on Pharmac website


Supply issue update: sodium cromoglicate (Ralicrom) cap 100 mg

Pharmac has been notified by the supplier Douglas of a supply issue with sodium cromoglicate cap 100 mg (Ralicrom).


Several alternatives have or will be listed as follows:



Somex

Allergoval (German)

Nalcrom (Italian)

Presentation

Cap 100 mg

Cap 100 mg

Cap 100 mg

Pack size

100 cap

100 cap

20 cap

Pharmacode

2719649

2721015

2721023

ETA to New Zealand

Week of 26 January

Can be obtained through wholesaler

Can be obtained through wholesaler

Funded from

1 January 2026

1 February 2026

1 February 2026

All above alternate brands are not Medsafe approved and will need be prescribed and dispensed in line with Section 29A of the Medicines Act. Note the German and Italian brands have non-English text; the supplier will include a product leaflet in English with both these products. More information is available – Ralicrom supply issue on Pharmac website


Supply issue: calcium polystyrene sulphonate (Calcium Resonium)


Due to a delay with manufacturing the supplier of calcium polystyrene sulphonate (Calcium Resonium) has advised it anticipates an out of stock between late-February and May 2026.


An alternative product of calcium polystyrene sulphonate powder, (Roma brand) will be funded from 1 February 2026, under Section 29A of the Medicines Act.


  • Both products are the same strength, however the strength is expressed differently:


    • The new product is labelled 99.934 % w/w with each 100g of powder containing 99.934g of calcium polystyrene sulfonate

    • The current product is labelled 999.3 mg/g with each 15g of powder containing calcium polystyrene sulfonate 14.99g


  • Preparation of the alternate Roma product: The suspension should be prepared immediately before use.


  • Preparation of the current Calcium Resonium product: Suspensions of the resin should be freshly prepared and not stored beyond 24 hours.



Special Authority change: olanzapine (as embonate monohydrate) inj 210 mg, 300 mg and 405 mg vial (Zyprexa Relprevv)


Currently, to initiate a patient on treatment with olanzapine depot injection prescribers must submit an Exceptional Circumstances application using a NPPA form. This was implemented to manage the supply issue with olanzapine depot.


From 1 February 2026, prescribers will instead be able to submit a Special Authority application to initiate treatment. Patients already on olanzapine depot inj will be able to continue to access treatment via Special Authority, and no further action is required from prescribers.  Pharmac webpage - Special Authority application – how to submit


While there is currently enough supply for the patients who are on treatment, the supply issue has not completely resolved. The change back to Special Authority approvals is intended to reduce the administration burden for prescribers rather than significantly increase the number of patients being started on treatment.


The new Special Authority criteria will be the same as the criteria patients must currently meet to gain approval through the Exceptional Circumstances applications. Supply is not secure enough to reinstate the original Special Authority criteria. The new Special Authority criteria can be seen on the Pharmac olanzapine depot webpage.


  • The note – “no new patients to be initiated on olanzapine”, will be removed from the Community Schedule 1 February 2026.


New listing and brand change: nitisinone 2mg, 5mg and 10mg capsules (LogixX Pharma)


From 1 February 2026, nitisinone will move from Pharmac’s Named Patient Pharmaceutical Assessment (NPPA) policy to the Pharmaceutical Schedule under Special Authority criteria. This change will make access easier and reduce the administrative burden for prescribers.  Nitisinone is used to treat rare inherited metabolic disorders, including tyrosinemia type 1 and alkaptonuria.


We will be contacting prescribers and pharmacists who currently support patients on nitisinone directly with detailed information and actions. More information is also available Nitisinone on Pharmac website.


Brand change: losartan potassium 50 mg with hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg tabletsMiro Healthcare Limited’s brand of losartan potassium 50 mg with hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg tablets I-Losartan & Hydrochlorothiazide will be listed (funded) on both schedules from 1 February 2026. The current Teva brand – Arrow-Losartan & Hydrochlorothiazide will no longer be funded from 1 July 2026.


The product offered by Miro is physically the same as the product supplied by Teva currently, but in different packaging.


Discontinuation reminder: PenMix 30 Penfill 3ml, NovoMix 30 FlexPen 3ml, Actrapid Penfill 3ml and Protaphane Penfill 3ml


NovoNordisk are rationalising their portfolio and discontinuing the above four insulins. Patients will need to transition to other alternatives. For information on dates and possible alternatives see our Insulin discontinuations on Pharmac website 


The first discontinuation is Penmix 30 which expires April 2026. It will be delisted from 1 May 2026.


Proposal to fund ferric derisomaltose (Monofer) in hospitals


Pharmac is proposing to fund ferric derisomaltose (Monofer) in hospitals for people with low iron levels who have experienced low phosphate levels (hypophosphataemia) after other iron infusions.


More information about the consultation, including how to provide feedback, is available here: Proposal to fund ferric derisomaltose in hospitals.


We will keep Pharmac’s website updated as the proposal progresses, but if you have any queries, you are welcome to contact us at consult@pharmac.govt.nz.


Proposal to widen access to existing medicines and fund a new medicine for the treatment of cystic fibrosis


Pharmac is seeking feedback on a proposal to widen access to Trikafta and Kalydeco and begin funding Alyftrek for the treatment of cystic fibrosis.


If approved, these medicines would be funded from 1 April 2026.



We welcome your feedback. Consultation is open until 5pm Wednesday 11 February 2026. 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.


  • Amino acid formula (Alfamino) Powder

  • Baclofen (Sintetica Baclofen Intrathecal) Inj 2 mg per ml, 5 ml ampoule (BNM)

  • Imatinib mesilate (Imatinib-Rex) Cap 100 mg (Rex Medical

  • Methadone hydrochloride (Methadone BNM) Tab 5 mg

  • Methylprednisolone (as sodium succinate) (Solu-Medrol-Act-O-Vial) Inj 500 mg vial

  • Oxytocin (Oxytocin BNM) Inj 10 iu per ml, 1 ml ampoule (BNM)

  • Tranexamic acid (Mercury Pharma) Tab 500 mg (BNM)




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