Varenicline (Champix): Funded from 1 April 2025

Champix is funded again from 1 April 2025

Champix is available again and will be fully funded for those who meet criteria from 1 April 2025. Pfizer had paused supply of its varenicline products in 2021.

Both the starter pack and standard pack are listed.

Schedule listing for Champix(external link)

Starting on Champix

People will need to meet the funding criteria to access funded Champix. One of these criteria is that the person is part of, or is about to enrol in, a comprehensive support and counselling smoking cessation programme, which includes prescriber or nurse monitoring.

Prescribers need to make a Special Authority application. In most cases, the application will only take a few minutes. Some doctors need to make a manual application, which can take a few days to process.

Champix is a three-month course. There is a starter pack, followed by two repeats of Champix 1 mg (56-tablet pack).

About Champix

Champix datasheet | Medsafe [PDF](external link)

Champix consumer information sheet | Medsafe [PDF](external link)

Who to contact 

If you have questions about the Special Authority, contact enquiry@pharmac.govt.nz