Barium sulphate (various) Oral liquids: Hospital supply issue
Challenges to the supply of barium products is on-going and a global issue.
15 May 2026 | Supply update
Supply of barium products remains constrained and is not expected to improve. Three brands are out of stock and will remain so for much of the rest of 2026.
Affected products
There is constrained supply of all barium sulphate products. This is due to global constraints on getting barium for these contrast media products. All suppliers are warning of on-going challenges to supply.
Regional Health advises that the following are out of stock and likely will remain so until the end of 2026.
- Neulumex (Pharmacode: 2683075 and 2683083)
- Tagitol V (Pharmacode: 2469138)
- Varibar Nectar (Pharmacode: 2469146).
Hospitals will need to discuss availability of alternatives directly with suppliers.
HML listing for barium sulphate(external link)
What's Pharmac doing?
We are working with Health NZ to identify alternative products.
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.
Sign up to our email list for regular emails about supply issues and more(external link)