Pharmac Update: Primary Care Prescribers | 30 January 2026
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Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 30 January 2026. It includes information on:
12-month prescriptions – Pharmac’s key messages for prescribers
From early 2026 medicines and other products will be funded for up to 12 months on a single prescription. This decision means that funding of medicines and other products will be aligned with the amended regulations. This will be enabled through changes in the Pharmaceutical Schedule. Details of all Schedule changes are included in our decision notification, linked here: Decision on changes to support increased prescription lengths.
Special Authority Expiry Dates
Prescribers should ensure for any medicines with Special Authority requirements, that the Special Authority approval is valid for the entire length of the prescription, particularly for prescriptions longer than three months.
Special Authority renewals can be applied for up to six months before the expiry date.
Prescribers should be prepared for Special Authority renewal requests from patients and pharmacists if the Special Authority is not valid for the whole prescription.
If the first dispensing is made before a Special Authority expires, up to three months’ worth of dispensings will be funded (even if repeats are collected after the expiry date). For any further supply beyond that, a new Special Authority is required.
ADHD prescribing changes – from 1 February 2026
From 1 February 2026, rules for prescribing ADHD stimulant medicines will change to allow a wider range of health professionals to start people on these medicines. The aim is to improve access and reduce wait times for ADHD treatment.
For more information, please visit the Pharmac website: ADHD prescribing changes – from 1 February 2026.
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:
Brand | 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.
More information is available - Calcium polystyrene sulphonate Powder on Pharmac website
Supply Issue: Mometasone furoate (Elocon) 0.1% cream and ointment
There is a supply issue affecting mometasone furoate 0.1% 50g cream and 15g ointment. The 15g cream, 50g ointment, and lotion remain available.
Expected resupply:
Mometasone furoate 0.1% cream 50g – expected end of February
Mometasone furoate 0.1% ointment 15 g – expected mid‑March
Some people may need a new prescription if the same pack size/presentation is unavailable on repeat. For further information please see our webpage - Mometasone furoate (Elocon) 0.1%: Supply issues.
Supply issue: Nutricia - multiple food products
Please ensure prescriptions are not brand and/or flavour specific. This will allow flexibility for pharmacists when dispensing. Our webpage has a list of out of stock products – Nutricia food products on Pharmac website
Supply Issue: Nifedipine 20 mg long-acting tabletsThere is a supply issue affecting nifedipine 20 mg long-acting tablets (Nyefax Retard). We are working with the supplier to confirm the resupply date.
Valni Retard nifedipine 20 mg long-acting tablets will be funded from 1 February 2026 and should be available to order from the supplier by mid-February 2026. Valni Retard is not Medsafe approved and will need to be prescribed and dispensed in line with section 29A of the Medicines Act.
The 30 mg and 60 mg presentations are not affected by this supply issue. The 10 mg has been discontinued and ran out in December 2025.
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.
Amoxicillin (Ibiamox) inj 250 mg vial (Douglas)
Morphine hydrochloride (RA-Morph) Oral liq 2 mg per ml (Juno)
Spironolactone (Biomed) Oral liq 5 mg per ml (Biomed)
