Pharmac Update: Primary Care Prescribers | 7 August 2026
- Aug 10
- 3 min read
Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 7 August 2026. It includes information on:
New updates: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 will be listed (funded) from 1 September 2026
Please transition your patients currently on Coversyl 2 mg and 8 mg tablets to the equivalent perindopril arginine (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 |
Decision to widen access for type 2 diabetes medicines
Following feedback on our original proposal, Pharmac will widen access to funded empagliflozin (Jardiance), empagliflozin with metformin (Jardiamet), dulaglutide (Trulicity) and liraglutide (Victoza), making these medicines available to more people with type 2 diabetes.
We originally consulted on a proposal to lower the cardiovascular risk threshold and remove the ethnicity-based access criteria to widen access to these medicines.
We listened to feedback and in response, we worked with suppliers to support wider access than originally proposed.
From 1 September, people with type 2 diabetes whose blood sugar levels remain above target HbA1c (of 53 mmol/mol or less) despite treatment with other diabetes medicines will be able to access funded treatment.
Note – If a person has previously had an initial approval for a GLP-1 agonist (dulaglutide or liraglutide) and is changing funded treatment to an SGLT2i (empagliflozin or empagliflozin with metformin) they are also eligible for funding.
Combination treatment funding - Funded empagliflozin or empagliflozin with metformin hydrochloride (type 2 diabetes) treatment is not to be given in combination with a funded GLP-1 agonist (dulaglutide or liraglutide) unless receiving (empagliflozin / empagliflozin with metformin hydrochloride) for the treatment of heart failure.
These changes are expected to help more people access treatment earlier, stay healthier for longer, and reduce their risk of diabetes-related complications.
Our webpage includes the new special authority criteria Pharmac decision: Widened access to Diabetes medicines
Supply issue: oestradiol 100mcg patch (Estradot brand)
Sandoz, the supplier has advised stock of the oestradiol 100mcg patches (Estradot brand) is very low and may run out. The Estradot 25 mcg, 50 mcg, 75 mcg strengths are not currently affected. All strengths of the Estradiol TDP Mylan brand are available. Please consider whether the 100-mcg Estradiol TDP Mylan brand is a suitable alternative for your patients.
Pharmac also funds other oestradiol treatments including gel (Estrogel) and tablets (Estrofem, Progynova), which are not affected by the supply issue and may be suitable for some people.
We expect Estradot 100 mcg to be available again by early September.
There is still a global supply issue affecting Estradot patches and supply of Estradot could be disrupted again.
For further details, refer to the Pharmac supply notices
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.
Calcium carbonate (Calcium Hexal) Tab eff 1.25 g (500 mg elemental)
Chlorothiazide Oral liq 50 mg per ml (Biomed)
Lorazepam (Ativan) Tab 1 mg
Oestriol (Ovestin) Crm 1 mg per g with applicator
Sodium citro-tartrate (Ural) Grans eff 4 g sachets
Temazepam (Normison) Tab 10 mg
