Zinc (Zincaps) 50 mg capsule: Supply issue

Affected product

There have been delays at the factory making Zincaps. The following product has been unavailable since mid-October 2025. 

• Chemical: Zinc sulphate
• Presentation: Cap 137.4 mg (50 mg elemental)
• Brand: Zincaps
• Pharmacode: 258253
• Subsidy: $11.00
• Measure / Qty: per 100

Pharmac is working with individual pharmacies to ensure supply is available for people with rare disorders.

Alternative products

Rugby Zinc

Rugby Zinc will be funded from 1 January 2026. This is a product labelled for sale in the United States as a dietary supplement, rather than a prescription medicine. As such, there is no data sheet or product leaflet available. 

• Chemical: Zinc sulfate heptahydrate
• Presentation: cap 220 mg (equivalent to 50 mg elemental zinc) 
• Pharmacode: 2719665
• Subsidy: $29.14 
• Measure/Qty: per 100
• s29 and wastage claimable 

A limited amount of this product will be available before the end of 2025. Another partial shipment is expected in early 2026.

Key differences:

• The Rugby capsule size is 220 mg compared to Zincaps 137.4 mg (zinc content is still the same = 50 mg).
• Chemical name is zinc sulfate heptahydrate, instead of zinc sulphate monohydrate. 
• Despite this product being labelled "dietary supplement", it is still a prescription medicine in New Zealand.

Zincaps S29

We listed this alternative from 1 October 2025. This product is exactly the same but is packaged for Australia. The key difference is that the New Zealand label states that the medicine is prescription only.

• Chemical: Zinc sulphate
• Brand: Zincaps
• Presentation: Cap 137.4 mg (50 mg elemental)  
• Pharmacode: 2714019
• Subsidy: $11.00
• Measure / Qty: per 100
• Unapproved medicine (Section 29) and wastage applies

Please keep Zincaps S29 and Rugby Zinc in dispensary

The alternative medicines do not have the ‘Prescription Medicine’ classification statement, because they are supplied for general sale in their home markets.

Please ensure that the Australian Zincaps and Rugby Zinc are kept in the dispensary and dispensed as a prescription-only medicine.

Prescribing and supplying an unapproved medicine

Section 29 of the Medicines Act 1981 allows for medicines that are not Medsafe approved to be prescribed and supplied to people. The medicine must be prescribed by someone registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand – such as, a doctor. 

We know supplying a medicine under section 29 is not ideal. In this case, however, this will allow patients to be able to access an appropriate treatment. 

We apologise for any inconvenience this causes. 

Advice for prescribing under section 29 – BPAC website(external link) 

Prescriber and pharmacist requirements for section 29 medicines – Medsafe website(external link)

What patients need to know about unapproved medicines – Healthify website(external link)

Expected resupply February 2026

The supplier, Arrotex, expects the Medsafe-registered product will be available again by late February 2026.

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)

Pharmac is a New Zealand government agency. We do not sell medicines or related products.