Ketamine (Ketalar) Inj 100 mg per ml, 2 ml vial: Hospital supply issue

Supply issue Hospital only Active

There has been a delay to the next delivery of Ketalar (Pharmacode: 436895).

18 March 2025 | Update

Pharmac is working with wholesalers and suppliers to reserve stock of the approved product (Ketalar | Pharmacode: 436895) for the ambulance services.

Ketamine-Baxter will be available for hospitals, but it is not Medsafe approved . It will need to be given in line with section 29 of the Medicines Act.

Affected product

Wholesalers have stock cover until early March 2025. 

Ketamine 

  • Presentation: Inj 100 mg per ml, 2 ml vial
  • Brand: Ketalar
  • Pharmacode: 436895 
  • Price: $36.23
  • Measure / Qty: per 5

HML listing for ketamine(external link)

The other listed presentations of ketamine are not affected by this issue.

Alternative product

We have listed an alternative from 1 March 2025.

  • Brand: Ketamine-Baxter
  • Presentation: Inj 100 mg per ml, 2 ml vial
  • Pharmacode: 2699915
  • Pack size: 5
  • Price: $36.23

Ketamine-Baxter is not Medsafe approved. It should be prescribed and given in line with section 29 of the Medicines Act. 

Expected resupply

We are working with Pfizer on when the Ketalar product will be available again.

Who to contact

If you have questions about this issue, email enquiry@pharmac.govt.nz

Please include as much information as you can about the product (presentation, brand, pharmacode) and who your wholesaler is.

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