Pharmac Update: Primary Care Prescribers | 4 September 2026
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Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 4 September 2026. It includes information on:
Supply issue: Bicillin LA injection. Please reserve stock for children under 13 years
We notified you in June that the supply of Benzathine benzylpenicillin (Bicillin LA) Inj 900 mg (1.2 million units) in 2.3 ml syringe, will be significantly delayed.
Key Dates:
The next shipment of Bicillin LA (Pharmacode 2258072) is not expected until mid-November 2026.
An alternative has been available - Benzathine benzylpenicillin (Inj 900 mg (1.2 million units) Benzetacil vial (Pharmacode 2711753). Benzetacil can be used under both PSO and standing orders.
Key messages:
Bicillin LA inj, is a prefilled syringe ready for use.
The alternative brand Benzetacil vial is a powder for injection, requiring reconstitution.
Benzetacil - Once reconstituted, final volume is 4.8 ml
Note the difference in final volume Bicillin LA is 2.3ml and Benzetacil is 4.8ml (The total dosage remains the same.)
We need to preserve current Bicillin supplies for young children receiving regular rheumatic fever prophylaxis.
Young children have been prioritised as they would require two injections for Benzetacil, due to the larger volume to be administered.
Everyone else on the rheumatic fever programme, including those aged over 13 years, need to change over to Benzetacil as soon as possible. Please aim to transition by 4th September.
Everyone receiving syphilis treatment should be administered Benzetacil through sexual health services.
Discontinue use of BPG (Benzathine benzylpenicillin Inj) for treatment of all first episode Strep A sore throats and skin infections and use oral alternatives (see Rheumatic Fever Guidelines, sore throat management)
Health NZ have provided information sheets for patients/whānau about Benzetacil and tips for staff administering the formulation Priority access to Bicillin while Benzetacil for wider use | Health Professionals
Our webpage has further information Bicillin Inj on Pharmac website
Discontinuation Reminder: Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM)
The supplier of the Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device has notified Pharmac they will cease supplying it to New Zealand from 1 December 2026.
People currently using funded Dexcom G6 CGMs will need to transition to an alternative funded CGM that is compatible with their insulin pump, either Dexcom G7 or FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus. Information and support resources are available to help people transition:
Dexcom G7: Upgrade to Dexcom G7|NZMS Dexcom
Freestyle Libre 3 Plus: Welcome to the FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensor|Mediray.
Further details about this discontinuation are available on our webpage: Dexcom G6 CGM being retired
Discontinuation Reminder: Sodium valproate (Epilim) 100mg crushable tablets
The supplier Sanofi has notified Pharmac of the discontinuation of sodium valproate (Epilim brand) 100mg crushable tablets. This is a global discontinuation. Sanofi expects that stock will be available until the end of November 2026. Please transition affected patients to an alternative treatment as soon as possible. For more information see Epilim discontinuation on Pharmac website
Supply Issue Reminder: Trusteel Infusion Sets
There is a global supply issue affecting TruSteel infusion sets (used with the Tandem insulin pumps).
There will not be enough TruSteel stock available to support current demand if usage patterns continue. To make sure there is enough supply for people who cannot transition to an alternate Autosoft product, it is important that patients who can safely and appropriately use an Autosoft infusion set are transitioned as soon as possible.
NZSSD have advised that most people currently using TruSteel infusion sets will likely be able to switch to Autosoft infusion sets. Autosoft infusion sets are funded by Pharmac and are compatible with Tandem pumps. NZSSD have provided clinical advice identifying patient groups who they recommended should be prioritised for the limited TruSteel stock.
Autosoft infusion sets have different insertion and priming requirements from TruSteel products. Patients will need training to learn how to use them correctly. The supplier has information and resources on their website. Coversyl tablets change of salt: Perindopril erbumine to Perindopril arginine Due to global alignment and to ensure continuity of supply, Coversyl containing perindopril erbumine will be replaced with Coversyl containing perindopril arginine.
The new Perindopril arginine tablets was listed (funded) from 1 September 2026
Please transition your patients currently on Coversyl 2 mg and 8 mg tablets to the equivalent perindopril arginine strengths (Coversyl 2.5 mg and 10 mg respectively) from 1 September.
Coversyl 4 mg tablets will remain available longer. Please transition these patients to the equivalent Coversyl 5mg tablets from October.
Pharmacist substitution between erbumine and arginine strengths is not possible due to different labelled strengths.
Perindopril erbumine and perindopril arginine salts are bioequivalent and interchangeable. The active moiety (perindopril) remains unchanged.
Because the two salts have different molecular weights, the labelled tablet strengths will change, while delivering the same amount of active perindopril.
More information, images, and a downloadable patient information leaflet can be found Coversyl on Pharmac website
Dose equivalence table
Current product (perindopril erbumine) | To | New product (perindopril arginine) |
1 tablet COVERSYL® 2 mg |
| 1 tablet COVERSYL® 2.5 mg |
1 tablet COVERSYL® 4 mg |
| 1 tablet COVERSYL® 5 mg |
1 tablet COVERSYL® 8 mg |
| 1 tablet COVERSYL® 10 mg |
Supply issue update: Disopyramide phosphate capsule 100mg (Rythmodan - Neon) Disopyramide phosphate capsule 100mg (Rythmodan – Neon brand) is no longer being supplied.
The current Neon stock has an expiry date of 30 September 2026
An alternative option has been sourced. Rythmodan – Cheplapharm capsule 100mg pack size 100 will be listed (funded) mid cycle from 10 September 2026.
The packaging artwork includes both Japanese and English labelling, with Japanese on one side and English on the other.
The new brand, Rythmodan - Cheplapharm capsule 100mg is not a Medsafe approved product and should be prescribed and supplied in line with Section 29 of the Medicines Act. The current Neon brand is also a Section 29 medicine.
Images of the new product and a downloadable patient information leaflet is available – Rythmodan on Pharmac webpage
New updates
Supply issue: Mercaptopurine 50mg tablets (Puri-nethol)
There is a supply issue affecting mercaptopurine 50mg tablets (Puri-nethol) due to a manufacturing issue.
From 10 September 2026, Pharmac will list (fund) an alternate brand, Mercaptopurine (Sterimax).
Mercaptopurine (Sterimax) is not a Medsafe approved brand and should be prescribed and supplied in line with Section 29A of the Medicines Act.
We know supplying a medicine under section 29A is not ideal. In this case, however, this will allow patients to continue to access their treatment without interruption.
Widened access to funded influenza vaccine for children under five
Pharmac is widening access to funded influenza vaccination from today for all children under 5 (under 59 months inclusive).
This means all children in this age group are now eligible for a free influenza vaccine (Influvac Tetra).
The change follows an increase in influenza-related illness, particularly among young children, and confirmation that there is sufficient vaccine supply available in New Zealand to support widened access.
Children under five years of age are more likely than any other age group to be admitted to hospital with severe respiratory illness resulting from influenza, and recent data has shown increasing hospitalisations in this age group.
This decision is separate to Pharmac's previously announced decision to fund influenza vaccination for children under five for the 2027 influenza season. That decision remains in place. Today's action has been taken in response to current influenza activity and the availability of vaccine supply.
More information is available on our website:
We encourage parents and caregivers of children under 5 to talk to their doctor, nurse, hauora provider or pharmacist about getting vaccinated.
We will continue to keep Pharmac's website updated. If you have any questions, please contact us at enquiry@pharmac.govt.nz.
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.
Benzbromarone (Narcaricin mite) Tab 50 mg (S29)
Codeine phosphate Tab 15 mg
Dexamethasone (Ozurdex) Ocular implant 700 mcg
Paediatric oral feed 1kcal/ml (Pediasure) Liquid (strawberry)
Rifampicin (Rifadin) Oral liq 100 mg per 5 ml Cyclophosphamide (Endoxen) Inj 1 g vial
