Pharmac Update: Primary Care Prescribers | 27 February 2026
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Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 27 February 2026. It includes information on:
Changes to Antiretroviral Dispensing – Effective 1 March 2026
From 1 March 2026, all listed antiretroviral (community schedule) treatments will default to 90‑day dispensing and may be prescribed and dispensed accordingly where appropriate.
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 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). These documents are intended for professionals working in specialist palliative care in Aotearoa only. Further education is being commissioned via bpacnz.
Proposal to widen access to nivolumab and ipilimumab for resectable melanoma
Pharmac is seeking feedback on a proposal to widen access to nivolumab and ipilimumab for people with stage 3B to stage 4 melanoma that can be removed with surgery.
If approved, funded access to these medicines would be widened from 1 May 2026.
For more information on this consultation, read the full proposal to widen access to nivolumab and ipilimumab for resectable melanoma
We welcome your feedback. Consultation is open until 5pm Monday 9 March 2026. Please send your feedback to consult@pharmac.govt.nz.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
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.
Glycopyrronium bromide (Robinul) Injection 0.2mg/ml 5x1ml (Aspen)
