Working with Pharmac
We’ve collated some key things to keep in mind when you’re working with Pharmac. If you have a query that isn’t covered on these webpages, please talk to your contract manager.
On this page
Pharmac and supplying the New Zealand market
Pharmac is a Crown entity that makes decisions on which medicines and vaccines are publicly funded in New Zealand. Pharmac is the lead agency for medical devices that have a direct therapeutic impact on patients and those that need a high level of clinical input.
We manage the Pharmaceutical Schedule which lists medicines funded for New Zealanders. It also lists medical devices used in public hospitals.
The majority of products listed are supplied and/or funded under agreements with suppliers. Many of these agreements have come about as a result of competitive processes that follow New Zealand government procurement rules.
Government Procurement Rules | Procurement.govt.nz(external link)
Procurement opportunities
Procurement opportunities are released as Requests for Proposals (RFP) as required, or as part of our Annual Tender in early November to mid-December each year.
Advanced notice to suppliers is via a Future Procurement Opportunity (FPO) on the New Zealand Government Electronic Tenders Service (GETS) website.
Government Electronic Tenders Service (GETS) | Procurement.govt.nz(external link)
Sign up to receive notifications for processes you are interested in. Pharmac’s processes are searchable under ‘Pharmaceutical Management Agency’.
The Annual Tender
Every year Pharmac releases its Invitation to Tender (ITT). It gives suppliers the opportunity to bid for supply of a large range of different medicines and related products (300–600 line items per tender). Read our Guide to the annual tender for suppliers which includes information on what to include in a tender bid.
Guide to the annual tender for suppliers
Your contract manager
Every medicine and medical device supplier is assigned a contract manager. If you supply both medicines and devices, you may have a contract manager for each.
Contract managers are contactable via phone or email, however in some instances written notification is required, such as when you are experiencing a supply issue or other changes to your agreement.
Additionally, you may wish to meet with your contract manager online or on the phone regularly. This is a good opportunity to discuss ongoing supply issues or future goals and market projections.
If you're not sure who your contract manager is, please email us.
- Medicine contracts: contractmanagement-medicines@pharmac.govt.nz
- Medical device contracts: contractmanagement-devices@pharmac.govt.nz
Official Information Act and Pharmac
Pharmac is subject to the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). Under that Act, members of the public may write to Pharmac to get access to official information.
For suppliers, this means:
- Information provided by suppliers to Pharmac becomes official information and must be dealt with under the OIA.
- Pharmac may ask the relevant supplier for feedback before deciding how to respond to the request.
- Suppliers may also request official information held by Pharmac, just like any other member of the public.
If you have any questions about this process, contact Pharmac’s OIA team or talk to your contract manager.
Working with other agencies
We work closely with Health New Zealand and Medsafe.
Health New Zealand holds the funding to deliver most publicly financed health services, including public hospitals. Health New Zealand and Pharmac each have responsibility for the procurement of medical devices.
Medsafe sits within the Ministry of Health – they approve medicines for use in New Zealand. They check that these products meet our standards for safety and quality, and that they work as well as we expect them to.