PHARMAC

09/04/2026

Pharmac is consulting on potential brand changes from the 2025/26 annual tender.

💬 Tell us how changing a brand of medicine might affect you and what support you'd need.

📝 Give us feedback on our online form:

We are seeking feedback on possible brand changes for medicines in Pharmac’s annual tender.

16/03/2026

📢 Have your say on Pharmac’s Exceptional Circumstances Framework

We’re reviewing how Pharmac considers funding medicines in exceptional circumstances, after hearing from people that the current framework is hard to understand and needs to work better.

This review aims to make the Framework easier to understand, faster to use, and more transparent, to make sure it works better for the people who rely on it.

Nothing is changing straight away. Applications will continue to be assessed as usual during the review, and anyone who already has funding will keep their approval.

💬 We want to hear from you.

Find out more at https://www.pharmac.govt.nz/news-and-resources/consultations-and-decisions/exceptions-review

12/03/2026

From 1 April 2026, we’re widening access to brentuximab vedotin for people with systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL).

This means it can be used as a first treatment option, instead of only after other treatments haven’t worked.

Pharmac widening access to a treatment for people with a rare blood cancer 12 March 2026 Media release Medicines At a glance Pharmac is widening access to brentuximab vedotin for people with systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL) from 1 April 2026. Brentuximab vedotin could be used as a fir...

11/03/2026

📣 Pharmac is funding life changing treatments for people with cystic fibrosis, including children.

From 1 April 2026, access will be widened to two existing medicines, and a new medicine will be funded, helping people with cystic fibrosis live longer, healthier lives.

Thank you to everyone who shared feedback - your input helped shape this decision.

🔗https://www.pharmac.govt.nz/news-and-resources/news/2026-03-media-release-pharmac-to-fund-lifechanging-treatments-for-children-with-cystic-fibrosis

05/03/2026

We want your feedback on a proposal to fund letermovir, a medicine that helps prevent serious viral infection in people with weak immune systems.

We’d like to hear from patients, whānau, health professionals, advocacy groups, and anyone interested.

🕔 Consultation closes 5pm, Thursday 19 March 2026
📧 Email: [email protected]
🌐 Find out more @

New proposal aims to reduce complications following a stem cell transplant 5 March 2026 Media release Medicines At a glance: Pharmac is proposing to fund letermovir, a medicine that helps prevent cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, from 1 May 2026. The proposal would mainly benefit people who have had....

18/02/2026

🩺 New treatment options proposed for people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)

Today we opened consultation on a proposal to fund two new targeted treatment combinations for people with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), a type of blood cancer.

If approved, funding would begin from 1 May 2026 for:
• venetoclax with ibrutinib
• venetoclax with obinutuzumab

These treatments could help people achieve longer‑lasting remission, reduce the need for chemotherapy, and improve quality of life.

We’re seeking feedback from people living with CLL, their whānau, health professionals, and the wider community. Consultation is open until 5pm, Wednesday 4 March.

👉 Find out more and have your say:

Pharmac proposes funding new treatments that could transform early care for people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, a type of blood cancer 18 February 2026 Media release Medicines At a glance Pharmac is proposing to fund two new treatment combinations - venetoclax with ibrutinib, and venetoclax w...

11/02/2026

🎤Have your say on our proposal to widen access to brentuximab for people with systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL) from 1 April 2026.

Pharmac proposes wider access to a treatment for people with a rare blood cancer 4 February 2026 Media release Medicines At a glance Pharmac is proposing to widen access to brentuximab vedotin for people with systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL) from 1 April 2026. Under the proposal, bren...

19/01/2026

📢 Have your say on a new iron treatment proposal

Pharmac is proposing to fund ferric derisomaltose (Monofer) in hospitals from 1 February 2026. This treatment is for people who have experienced low phosphate levels (hypophosphataemia) after other iron infusions.

We want your feedback to help shape this proposal. Consultation closes 5pm, Friday 30 January 2026.

👉 Share your views here:

Proposal to fund ferric derisomaltose in hospitals 20 January 2026 Medicines Consultation Closes 30 Jan What we’re proposing We are proposing to fund ferric derisomaltose (Monofer) in hospitals for people who need an iron infusion and have previously experienced hypophosphataemia after receiving o...

11/01/2026

📢 Funding confirmed for rare disorder treatment

Pharmac will fund nitisinone for people with tyrosinemia type 1 and alkaptonuria – two rare inherited metabolic disorders – from 1 February 2026.

This change will make it easier for clinicians to prescribe nitisinone and help ensure ongoing supply in New Zealand.

People currently receiving nitisinone through NPPA will continue treatment as usual but may need to change to the LogixX Pharma brand from February.

Find out more at:

Decision to fund nitisinone for people with rare inherited metabolic disorders 12 January 2026 Medicines Decision What we’re doing We are pleased to announce that nitisinone will be listed on the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 February 2026 for people with rare inherited metabolic disorders. This ...

01/12/2025

📣 Have your say: Improving access to emergency medicines in rural communities

Getting fast emergency care can be especially challenging for people living in rural areas of New Zealand, where ambulances can take longer to arrive and hospitals may be further away.

Currently, some trauma and emergency services in the community don’t have the same access to funded medicines as Health NZ hospitals and ambulance services. This can affect people’s ability to get the medicines they need, when they need it.

Pharmac is proposing to extend funding of certain emergency medicines to other community services including PRIME services, and home birth services.

This would mean rural GPs, nurses, and midwives could access the same treatments for trauma and medical emergencies as hospitals and ambulances.

💬 We’re seeking feedback to make sure this change works for the people and services it affects.
📅 Consultation is open until Friday 19 December
📧 Email your feedback to: [email protected]
🔗 Learn more: https://www.pharmac.govt.nz/news-and-resources/news/pharmac-proposes-improved-access-to-emergency-medicines-in-rural-and-remote-communities

26/11/2025

📣 Pharmac is making a change to ensure everyone who needs HIV medicines can access them more easily.

From 1 March 2026, all HIV medicines will be able to be dispensed in three-month amounts (rather than monthly), reducing pharmacy visits and making it easier for people to manage their treatment.

🔗 Find out more: bit.ly/4rhsu9f

Decision to enable three monthly (STAT) dispensing for HIV medicines 27 November 2025 Medicines Decision What we’re doing We're pleased to announce that from 1 March 2026 Pharmac will be enabling more flexible supply via all at once dispensing (known as STAT or 3 monthly dispensing) for all anti...

19/11/2025

📣 Have your say:

We're proposing to fund a new brand of methylphenidate to help ease ongoing supply issues and provide more treatment options for people with ADHD.

If approved, Rubifen LA would be funded from 1 July 2026.

Consultation is open until 5pm, Thursday 4 December 2025. We want to know what you think.

🔗bit.ly/3X2qHHt

Proposal to fund another new brand of methylphenidate hydrochloride 20 November 2025 Have your say We’re proposing to fund another brand of methylphenidate modified-release: Rubifen LA, supplied by AFT Pharmaceuticals Rubifen LA would be funded from 1 July 2026 for people with attention deficit ...