Consultation on possible brand changes through the annual tender

8 April 2026

Medicines Consultation Closes 04 May

We are seeking feedback on possible brand changes for medicines in Pharmac’s annual tender.

On this page

Pharmac is seeking feedback on possible brand changes through our 2025/26 Annual Invitation to Tender. In particular, we’re wanting feedback on how a brand change could be managed to best support people taking these medicines.

We’re doing this because it’s important to us that annual tender decisions are informed by the experiences of people taking the medicines, and those who support them, including heath care professionals and caregivers. It is also important to us that decisions are informed by the experiences of the healthcare professionals that are prescribing, dispensing or administering these medicines. This helps us to better understand what a brand change would mean for people and how we could best support a change.

No decisions about brand changes for these medicines have been made. We will use your feedback to help us make informed decisions about whether to change the funded brands of these medicines and how any changes would be supported.

This consultation is open from: Wednesday, 8 April – Monday, 4 May 4pm NZT.

Full list of medicines included in the 2026 tender brand change consultation [XLSX 26 KB]
Full list of medicines included in the 2026 tender brand change consultation [PDF 216 KB]

Online feedback form

What you can tell us

For each medicine included in this consultation:

For the proposed medicines where there is currently more than one funded brand, what impact could moving to a single funded brand have on people who use this medicine?
What do you think the key issues for Pharmac to consider would be if there was a change in funded brand for the proposed medicines?
Are there specific features of this medicine that are important to people using it and should be considered? For example, pack size, tablet size, taste, device design, or how the medicine is taken.
Are there specific features that are important to healthcare professionals prescribing, dispensing or administering the medicine that should be considered? For example, pack size, packaging types, or storage conditions.
Are there any groups of people for whom changing brands may be particularly challenging? We are interested in the groups we should consider from your perspective.
What information or support would doctors, pharmacists, or other healthcare professionals need to help people through a brand change?
What support or resources would you or other people using these medicines need if a brand change were to occur?

We welcome any other feedback you may wish to provide.

Medicines with possible brand changes

The medicines are from the following therapeutic groups, as listed in the Pharmaceutical Schedule(external link) (the list of funded medicines). A brief description of the treatment areas for each therapeutic group is also provided in brackets.

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Alimentary tract and metabolism (digestive issues, diabetes, laxatives, vitamins and minerals and metabolic disorders)

Medicine	Current funded brand(s)	What medicine is mainly used for
Colecalciferol cap 1.25 mg	Vit.D3	Colecalciferol is a vitamin D supplement used to treat vitamin D deficiency.
Colecalciferol oral liq 188 mcg per ml (7,500 iu per ml)	Clinicians
Ispaghula (psyllium) husk powder for oral soln	Konsyl-D	Ispaghula (psyllium) husk is a bulk-forming laxative used to relieve constipation by increasing faecal mass which stimulates peristalsis.
Gliclazide tab 80 mg	Glizide	Gliclazide is used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus
Glucagon hydrochloride inj 1 mg syringe kit	Glucagen Hypokit	Glucagon hydrochloride is used to treat low blood glucose (also called hypoglycaemia).
Macrogol 3350 with potassium chloride, sodium bicarbonate and sodium chloride powder for oral soln 13.125 g with potassium chloride 46.6 mg, sodium bicarbonate 178.5 mg and sodium chloride 350.7 mg	Molaxole Movicol	Macrogol 3350 with potassium chloride, sodium bicarbonate and sodium chloride is used to treat chronic constipation and faecal impaction
Omeprazole inj 40 mg	Dr Reddy’s Omperazole Ocicure (S29)	Omeprazole is used to treat and prevent problems affecting your stomach and gut, such as indigestion, reflux and ulcers.
Sapropterin dihydrochloride tab soluble 100 mg	Kuvan	Sapropterin dihydrochloride is used to treat phenylketonuria (PKU) and tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency.
Thiamine hydrochloride inj 100 mg per ml, 2 ml	Any Brand	Thiamine hydrochloride is used to prevent and treat thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency. It is also used to prevent and treat Wernicke’s encephalopathy, a serious brain condition caused by low thiamine levels.
Ursodeoxycholic acid cap 250 mg - 300 mg	Ursosan	Ursodeoxycholic acid is used to treat primary biliary cholangitis and other long‑term liver diseases that cause blocked bile flow, including primary sclerosing cholangitis and cholestasis related to cystic fibrosis.

Anti-infectives (bacterial and other infections)

Medicine	Current funded brand(s)	What medicine is mainly used for
Amoxicillin grans for oral liq 125 mg per 5 ml	Alphamox 125	Amoxicillin is a penicillin antibiotic. It is used to treat bacterial infections.
Amoxicillin grans for oral liq 250 mg per 5 ml	Alphamox 250
Ceftazidime inj 1 g	Ceftazidime Kabi	Ceftazidime is used to treat infections caused by bacteria that respond to it, including Gram‑positive and Gram‑negative infections. It is also used for complicated urinary‑tract infections, lung infections caused by Pseudomonas in people with cystic fibrosis, and to help prevent infection during transurethral prostate surgery.
Cefuroxime sodium inj 750 mg	Cefuroxime Devatis	Cefuroxime sodium is used to treat infections caused by bacteria that respond to it, including both Gram‑positive and Gram‑negative types. It is also used for acute kidney infections and can be given before surgery to help prevent infections.
Cefuroxime sodium inj 1.5 g	Cefuroxime Devatis
Efavirenz with emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil (as a fumarate) tab 600 mg with emtricitabine 200 mg and tenofovir disoproxil 245 mg (300 mg as a fumarate)	TEEVIR	Efavirenz with emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil is used to treat HIV infection in combination with other antiretroviral drugs
Entecavir tab 0.5 mg	Entecavir (Rex)	Entecavir is used to treat chronic hepatitis B
Ertapenem inj 1 g	Invanz	Ertapenem is used to treat abdominal infections, acute gynaecological infections, community‑acquired pneumonia, and diabetic foot infections of the skin and soft tissue. It is also used to help prevent infection during colorectal surgery.
Flucloxacillin sodium inj 250 mg	Flucloxin	Flucloxacillin sodium is a penicillin antibiotic. It is used to treat bacterial infections.
Flucloxacillin sodium inj 500 mg	Flucloxin
Flucloxacillin sodium inj 1 g	Flucil
Fluconazole cap 50 mg	Mylan	Fluconazole is an antifungal medicine used to treat infections caused by fungi.
Fluconazole cap 150 mg	Mylan
Fluconazole cap 200 mg	Mylan
Metronidazole inj 5 mg per ml, 100 ml	Baxter	Metronidazole is an antibiotic used to treat different infections.
Moxifloxacin tab 400 mg	Avelox	Moxifloxacin is an antibiotic used to treat infections which haven't improved with other antibiotics, or when other antibiotics can't be prescribed.
Nitrofurantoin cap modified-release 100 mg	Macrobid	Nitrofurantoin is an antibiotic used to treat and prevent urinary tract infections.
Rifampicin cap 150 mg	Rifadin	Rifampicin is used to treat and prevent tuberculosis (TB). It's also used to prevent other infections such as meningitis or Haemophilus influenzae.
Rifampicin cap 300 mg	Rifadin

Blood and blood forming organs (disorders that affect blood and its components)

Medicine	Current funded brand(s)	What medicine is mainly used for
Aspirin tab EC 100 mg	Ethics Aspirin EC	Low dose aspirin helps prevent heart disease in some high‑risk people and reduces the chance of further heart problems in people who already have heart disease. It is used to treat some types of heart attacks and urgent heart conditions, including unstable angina. It also helps lower the risk of another stroke or mini‑stroke when atrial fibrillation is not the cause.
Potassium chloride inj 75 mg (1 mmol) per ml, 10 ml ampoule	Juno Pfizer (S29) LumaCina Any Brand in Part II of Section H	Intravenous potassium chloride is used to treat severe hypokalaemia or hypokalaemia in individuals unable to take sufficient potassium supplementation orally

Medicine

Current funded brand(s)

What medicine is mainly used for

Aspirin
tab EC 100 mg

Ethics Aspirin EC

Low dose aspirin helps prevent heart disease in some high‑risk people and reduces the chance of further heart problems in people who already have heart disease. It is used to treat some types of heart attacks and urgent heart conditions, including unstable angina. It also helps lower the risk of another stroke or mini‑stroke when atrial fibrillation is not the cause.

Potassium chloride
inj 75 mg (1 mmol) per ml, 10 ml ampoule

Juno

Pfizer (S29)

LumaCina

Any Brand in Part II of Section H

Intravenous potassium chloride is used to treat severe hypokalaemia or hypokalaemia in individuals unable to take sufficient potassium supplementation orally

Cardiovascular system (heart and blood vessel conditions)

Medicine	Current funded brand(s)	What medicine is mainly used for>
Ambrisentan tab 5 mg	Ambrisentan Viatris	Ambrisentan is used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs).
Ambrisentan tab 10 mg	Ambrisentan Viatris
Bendroflumethiazide [Bendrofluazide] tab 2.5 mg	Arrow-Bendrofluazide	Bendroflumethiazide is used to treat swelling (oedema) and high blood pressure (hypertension).
Bendroflumethiazide [Bendrofluazide] tab 5 mg	Arrow-Bendrofluazide
Colestyramine powder for oral liq 4 g	Colestyramine - Mylan (S29) Quantalan sugar free (S29)	Colestyramine is used to treat high cholesterol, mixed high lipid levels, itching caused by partial bile duct blockage or primary biliary cholangitis, and diarrhoea after ileal surgery or ileal disease.
Ephedrine inj 30 mg per ml, 1 ml	Max Health	Ephedrine is used to treat shock when fluids don’t work, and to raise low blood pressure caused by spinal or epidural anaesthesia.
Esmolol hydrochloride inj 10 mg per ml, 10 ml vial	Any Brand	Esmolol hydrochloride is used for short‑term treatment of supraventricular arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and sinus tachycardia. It is also used to control fast heart rate and high blood pressure around surgery.
Losartan tab 12.5 mg	Losartan Actavis	Losartan is used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure, and diabetic kidney disease in people with type 2 diabetes.
Losartan tab 25 mg	Losartan Actavis
Losartan tab 50 mg	Losartan Actavis
Losartan tab 100 mg	Losartan Actavis
Metoprolol succinate tab long-acting Very Low Dose (20-25 mg)	Myloc CR	Metoprolol succinate is used to treat high blood pressure, angina, heart failure (as an add‑on treatment), heart rhythm problems, heart attacks, overactive thyroid, and to help prevent migraines.
Metoprolol succinate tab long-acting Low Dose (40-50 mg),	Myloc CR
Metoprolol succinate tab long-acting Medium Dose (90-100 mg)	Myloc CR
Metoprolol succinate tab long-acting High Dose (180-200 mg)	Myloc CR
Pravastatin tab 20 mg	Clinect	Pravastatin is used to treat high cholesterol, mixed high lipid levels, prevent cardiovascular events in people at high risk, and manage high lipid levels after an organ transplant.
Pravastatin tab 40 mg	Clinect
Sodium nitroprusside inj 50 mg vial	Any Brand	Sodium nitroprusside is used to treat dangerously high blood pressure in emergencies. It can also be used during surgery to safely lower blood pressure. In addition, it is used to treat both sudden (acute) and long‑term (chronic) heart failure.

Dermatologicals (skin conditions)

Medicine	Current funded brand(s)	What medicine is mainly used for
Amorolfine nail soln 5%	MycoNail	Amorolfine is used to treat fungal nail infections
Ciclopirox olamine nail soln 8%	Any Brand	Ciclopirox is used to treat fungal infections in toenails or fingernails.
*Dimethicone crm 10%	healthE Dimethicone 10%	Dimethicone cream is used as a barrier to protect skin
*Emulsifying ointment oint (pack size 200 g or less)	Jaychem	Emulsifying ointment is used to moisturise very dry skin in eczema or dermatitis
Mupirocin oint 2%	Bactroban Any Brand in Part II of Section H	Mupirocin is used to treat bacterial skin infections
*Paraffin white soft (pack size 500 g or less)	EVARA White Soft Paraffin	Paraffin white soft is used as an emollient used as a soothing dressing to provide relief for chafing, rashes, cracked lips and other irritating dry skin conditions

Genito urinary system (urinary and reproductive system conditions)

Medicine	Current funded brand(s)	What medicine is mainly used for
Carboprost inj 250 mcg per ml, 1 ml	Any Brand	Carboprost is used to treat heavy bleeding after childbirth when the uterus doesn’t contract properly and other medicines like ergometrine and oxytocin haven’t worked.
**Intra-uterine device (Non-hormonal) IUD Short	Choice 380 7med Nsha Silver/copper Short	The intrauterine device, or IUD, is a form of contraception.
**Intra-uterine device (Non-hormonal) IUD Medium	Cu 375 Standard
**Intra-uterine device (Non-hormonal) IUD Long	TCu 380 Plus Normal

Hormones (conditions requiring regulation or replacement of hormones)

Medicine	Current funded brand(s)	What medicine is mainly used for
Desmopressin acetate nasal spray 10 mcg per dose	Desmopressin-PH&T	Desmopressin acetate reduces how much urine the body makes. It is mainly used to treat bedwetting in people who can normally concentrate their urine. It can also be used to treat antidiuretic hormone–sensitive cranial diabetes insipidus or to check whether the kidneys can concentrate urine.

Musculoskeletal system (conditions affecting bones, muscles and joints)

Medicine	Current funded brand(s)	What medicine is mainly used for
Allopurinol tab 100 mg	Ipca-Allopurinol	Allopurinol is a long-term treatment to prevent gout attacks.
Allopurinol tab 300 mg	Ipca-Allopurinol
Ibuprofen tab 200 mg - blister pack (pack size greater than or equal to 100 and less than or equal to 1,000)	Relieve	Ibuprofen is used to treat pain, inflammation and fever.
Pyridostigmine bromide tab 60 mg	Mestinon	Pyridostigmine is used to improve muscle strength in the treatment of myasthenia gravis.

Nervous system (includes analgesics, anaesthetics, neurological conditions, mental health, and dementia)

Medicine	Current funded brand(s)	What medicine is mainly used for
Amitriptyline tab 10 mg	Arrow-Amitriptyline	Amitriptyline is used to treat nerve pain, depression, and prevent migraine headaches.
Amitriptyline tab 25 mg	Arrow-Amitriptyline
Amitriptyline tab 50 mg	Arrow-Amitriptyline
Aripiprazole tab 5 mg	Aripiprazole Sandoz	Aripiprazole is used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Aripiprazole tab 10 mg	Aripiprazole Sandoz
Aripiprazole tab 15 mg	Aripiprazole Sandoz
Aripiprazole tab 20 mg	Aripiprazole Sandoz
Aripiprazole tab 30 mg	Aripiprazole Sandoz
Atomoxetine cap 10 mg	APO-Atomoxetine	Atomoxetine is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Atomoxetine cap 18 mg	APO-Atomoxetine
Atomoxetine cap 25 mg	APO-Atomoxetine
Atomoxetine cap 40 mg	APO-Atomoxetine
Atomoxetine cap 60 mg	APO-Atomoxetine
Atomoxetine cap 80 mg	APO-Atomoxetine
Atomoxetine cap 100 mg	APO-Atomoxetine
Dexmedetomidine hydrochloride inj 100 mcg per ml, 2 ml vial	Dexmedetomidine Viatris	Dexmedetomidine is used for sedation during intensive care and sedation prior to surgical procedures.
Disulfiram tab 200 mg	Antabuse	Disulfiram is used to support people with alcohol dependence.
Escitalopram tab 10 mg	Ipca-Escitalopram	Escitalopram is used to treat a number of mental health conditions including depression and anxiety.
Escitalopram tab 20 mg	Ipca-Escitalopram
Granisetron inj 1 mg per ml	Deva	Granisetron is a medicine that helps prevent or treat nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy. It is also used to prevent nausea and vomiting from radiotherapy and surgery, and to treat nausea and vomiting after surgery.
Metoclopramide hydrochloride tab 10 mg	Metoclopramide Actavis 10	Metoclopramide hydrochloride is a medicine used to treat nausea and vomiting, including from migraines. It’s also used during certain stomach or bowel tests, and to help manage nausea and vomiting for people receiving palliative care.
Naltrexone hydrochloride tab 50 mg	Naltraccord	Naltrexone is used to treat alcohol dependence by reducing the desire to drink.
Paracetamol tab 500 mg - bottle pack (pack size greater than or equal to 1,000)	Noumed Paracetamol	Paracetamol is used to treat different types of mild to moderate pain including headache, migraine, period pain and aches and pains associated with colds and flu.
Prochlorperazine tab 5 mg	Nausafix	Prochlorperazine is used to treat nausea (feeling sick) and vomiting (being sick).
Risperidone tab 0.5 mg	Risperidone (Teva)	Risperidone is used to treat some types of mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
Risperidone tab 1 mg	Risperidone (Teva)
Risperidone tab 2 mg	Risperidone (Teva)
Risperidone tab 3 mg	Risperidone (Teva)
Risperidone tab 4 mg	Risperidone (Teva) Risperdal
Tramadol hydrochloride cap 50 mg	Arrow-Tramadol	Tramadol is used for the relief of moderate to severe pain such as after an injury, or operation or pain caused by a terminal illness such as cancer.

Oncology agents (solid tumour, blood cancer and immunosuppressants for inflammatory conditions)

Medicine	Current funded brand(s)	What medicine is mainly used for
Calcium folinate inj 50 mg	Eurofolic Leucovorin Pharmacia (S29)	Calcium folinate is used to prevent side effects caused by methotrexate. It is also used when a methotrexate overdose is suspected. In addition, it can be given alongside fluorouracil to help treat colorectal cancer.
Calcium folinate inj 100 mg	Eurofolic Leucovorin Pharmacia (S29)
Calcium folinate inj 300 mg	Leucovorin DBL (S29) Any brand in Part II of Section H
Calcium folinate inj 1 g	Eurofolic Leucovorin DBL (S29)o
Docetaxel inj 80 mg	DBL Docetaxel	Docetaxel is used to treat breast cancer. It is also used for non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), prostate cancer, head and neck cancer, and ovarian cancer.
Exemestane tab 25 mg	Pfizer Exemestane	Exemestane is used to treat some types of breast cancer for women who have gone through menopause.
Gemcitabine hydrochloride inj 1 g	DBL Gemcitabine	Gemcitabine is used to treat non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It is also used for pancreatic cancer, bladder cancer, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer.
Imatinib mesilate cap 100 mg	Imatinib-Rex	Imatinib mesilate is used to treat several cancers, including certain types of leukaemia, gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs), dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, PDGFR‑related blood disorders, hypereosinophilic syndrome, chronic eosinophilic leukaemia, and some forms of systemic mastocytosis.
Imatinib mesilate cap 400 mg	Imatinib-Rex
Irinotecan inj 20 mg per ml, 5 ml	Accord	Irinotecan is used to treat metastatic colorectal cancer (bowel cancer that has spread).
Methotrexate inj 100 mg per ml, 10 ml vial	Methotrexate Ebewe	Methotrexate is used to treat inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and Crohn's disease.
Octreotide inj 50 mcg per ml	Max Health Octreotide GH (S29) Omega (S29)	Octreotide treats acromegaly when other treatments don’t work, helps control symptoms from certain hormone‑producing tumours, prevents problems after pancreatic surgery, and treats bleeding from oesophageal varices.
Octreotide inj 100 mcg per ml, 1 ml	Max Health Omega (S29) Sun Pharma (S29) Octreotide GH (S29)
Octreotide inj 500 mcg per ml	Max Health Omega (S29) Octreotide GH (S29) Sun Pharma (S29)
Paclitaxel inj 100 mg	Anzatax	Paclitaxel is used to treat ovarian cancer, breast cancer, and non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The albumin‑bound form is also used for metastatic breast cancer, NSCLC, and metastatic pancreatic cancer.
Paclitaxel inj 300 mg	Anzatax
Thiotepa inj 15 mg	Tepadina	Thiotepa is used before a stem cell transplant to prepare the body for the procedure. It is given with other chemotherapy medicines as part of the conditioning treatment.
Thiotepa inj 100 mg	Tepadina

Respiratory system and allergies (lung conditions and allergies)

Medicine	Current funded brand(s)	What medicine is mainly used for
Cetirizine hydrochloride oral liq 1 mg per ml	Histaclear	Cetirizine is an antihistamine used to treat and prevent allergies such as hay fever.
Cetirizine hydrochloride tab 10 mg	Zista
Nintedanib cap 100 mg	Ofev	Nintedanib is used to treat a lung disease called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. It helps to slow down the development of scarring (fibrosis) in the lungs.
Nintedanib cap 150 mg	Ofev

Rare disorders

Therapeutic group	Medicine	Current funded brand(s)	What medicine is mainly used for
Alimentary	Sapropterin dihydrochloride tab soluble 100 mg	Kuvan	Sapropterin dihydrochloride is used to treat phenylketonuria (PKU) and tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency.
Musculoskeletal	Pyridostigmine bromide tab 60 mg	Mestinon	Pyridostigmine is used to improve muscle strength in the treatment of myasthenia gravis.

Sensory organs (eye and ear conditions)

Medicine	Current funded brand(s)	What medicine is mainly used for
Cyclopentolate hydrochloride eye drops 1%	Cyclogyl	Cyclopentolate is used to widen the pupils and temporarily relax the eye’s focusing muscles for eye exams and around eye surgery.
Timolol maleate eye drops 0.25%	Arrow-Timolol	Timolol is used to treat high pressure inside the eye.
Timolol maleate eye drops 0.5%	Arrow-Timolol	Timolol is used to treat high pressure inside the eye.
Tropicamide eye drops 0.5%	Mydriacyl	Tropicamide is used to widen the pupils and relax the eye’s focusing muscles during eye exams.
Tropicamide eye drops 1%	Mydriacyl

All products included in this proposal have an ABA of 5%.

*Please note paraffin white soft, dimethicone cream, and emulsifying ointment do not have the same regulatory requirements as medicines because they are classified as emollients or barrier creams rather than a medicine. To ensure any emollients or barrier creams are suitable for Principal Supply Status, our Tender Clinical Advisory Committee reviews samples of these products to assess features such as consistency and packaging.

**Please note that intrauterine devices (IUDs) are classified as medical devices and therefore do not have the same regulatory requirements as medicines. For more information on the regulation of IUDs, please refer to the “What we consider when we make decisions to award tenders” section.

About the annual tender

How the annual tender works

The annual invitation to tender (“the annual tender”) is a procurement process that Pharmac runs each year to secure the best possible prices and supply arrangements for many of the medicines used by New Zealanders.

It gives suppliers the opportunity to bid for supply of a large range of different medicines (350 to 600 line items per tender). Suppliers bid to have “Principal Supply Status” which means that if they are selected, they become the main supplier of that medicine in New Zealand with supply of up to 95% of the total funded market.

The annual tender is one of the ways that Pharmac manages New Zealand’s spend on medicines. It is key in helping Pharmac keep up with increasing demand for medicines we fund, and to fund new and innovative medicines. It means we can secure ongoing supply to help reduce the likelihood of stock issues, as well as decreasing cost so we can invest in more medicines. All savings achieved through the annual tender are reinvested to provide more medicines for more people, either by introducing new treatments or expanding access to existing ones.

The Funding Process – About the Annual Tender

What is the alternative brand allowance?

In most cases, the Principal Supply Status brand is the only brand listed on the Pharmaceutical Schedule. Our contracts with suppliers, who we award Principal Supply Status to, include mechanisms to ensure that people who require a different brand for clinical reasons can still access one.

There is a pathway for those who are unable to use the funded Principal Supply Status brands. We call this the ‘alternative brand allowance (ABA)’ and it allows eligible people to access other brands. The ABA use is generally managed through Pharmac’s Exceptional Circumstances Framework, and to access the ABA your prescriber would need to tell Pharmac the clinical reasons why the funded brands won’t work for you, or the clinical reason you need to stay on your current brand.

What are the possible outcomes from the annual tender?

When Pharmac makes decisions to award a tender for a currently funded medicine, there are three main outcomes, as summarised below.

If the brand awarded the tender was already the only funded brand

There would be no noticeable change for people using the medicine, although the price of the medicine may change.

If the brand awarded the tender was different to the currently funded brand(s)

People would need to move to the brand that has been awarded the tender over time. This usually happens over five months. After this, the other brand(s) would no longer be funded by Pharmac.

What does this mean for medicines included in this consultation?

If we award a tender for a particular medicine to a pharmaceutical supplier, then that supplier’s brand would become the main funded brand of that medicine. For medicines included in this consultation, it would be the main funded brand until 30 June 2029. The brand change transitions would start at different times for different medicines, depending on when a decision is made and when the successful supplier expects to be able to have enough stock to supply the New Zealand market.

The specifics of the brands being proposed have not been included in this consultation, due to the commercially sensitive nature of this information. At this stage, we are wanting to understand how a brand change would impact people using these medicines.

No decisions have been made yet as to whether the brand of these medicines would change. The funded brands, pricing and timeframes for any change would be confirmed as part of a future decision. We will incorporate the feedback received through this consultation to help inform any decision, and our decisions will be publicly notified.

What we consider when we make decisions to award tenders

Clinical and technical advice is an important part of the review of the tender bids that are received. Pharmac gets this advice from the Tender Clinical Advisory Committee. This Committee is made up of a range of health professionals including doctors, pharmacists, nurses, other clinical specialists and a consumer representative. Their role is to evaluate:

the packaging – is it easy to store, is it easy to get into
the labelling – is it easy to read and understand and follows the Pharmac labelling guidelines
the product – is it easy to break a tablet along the score lines, are the capsules or tablets easy to swallow, is the consistency of the product okay
the taste – will the taste of the medicine deter some people from taking the medicine
risk – is it okay for a medicine to have Principal Supply Status
other clinical and technical details

The links below contain further information:

Tender Clinical Advisory Committee

Pharmac labelling guidelines(external link)

Factors for consideration

In addition to this evaluation, Pharmac also considers other factors as part of our assessment against our decision-making framework, the Factors for Consideration. We look at things like:

Does the supplier have a good supply record? Do we have confidence that the supplier can meet demand?
Is the price sustainable? Would it provide savings which can be used to invest in other medicines?
Are there groups of people for whom a brand change would not be appropriate and if so, what actions can we take to mitigate or prevent impacts from this on these people and their families, whānau, and caregivers?

Generic medicines

A brand change can often be from the original brand to a generic brand, or between different generic brands of a medicine. Generic medicines have the same active ingredients and work in the same way as the original brand. Generic medicines can look different to the original brand. Any generic medicine considered for a brand change must be approved by Medsafe before Pharmac will fund it. The Medsafe approval process includes ensuring that the brand meets acceptable standards and works as well as the original brand.

About generic medicines

Medsafe’s Q&A on Generic Medicines(external link)

Specific products included in this consultation

Intrauterine devices (IUDs)

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are included in this consultation and are classified as medical devices and therefore do not have the same regulatory requirements as medicines. To be legally supplied in New Zealand, medical devices must be notified to the Web‑Assisted Notification of Devices (WAND) database(external link). In addition, for the 2025/26 ITT, Pharmac requires any funded IUD to hold Medical Device Regulation (MDR) certification.

Creams and ointments

Paraffin white soft, dimethicone cream, and emulsifying ointment are also included in this consultation. These products do not have the same regulatory requirements as medicines because they are classified as emollients or barrier creams rather than a medicine. To ensure any emollients or barrier creams are suitable for Principal Supply Status, our Tender Clinical Advisory Committee reviews samples of these products to assess features such as consistency and packaging.

To provide feedback

Please provide feedback using one of the options below by Monday 4 May 4pm NZT.

All feedback received before the closing date will be considered by Pharmac’s Board (or its delegate) prior to making a decision for all items included in this proposal.

Option 1 – Feedback form (recommended)

Use the feedback form. Each feedback form is limited to five medicines. This helps us ensure that your feedback is accurately recorded and considered. You are welcome to submit multiple feedback forms. Each form takes approximately 5 – 10 minutes and will automatically be sent to us once you have completed it.

Option 2 – Email submissions

We welcome any other form of feedback you may wish to provide. Please send us an email to tenderconsult@pharmac.govt.nz.

Option 3 – Feedback upload (Excel)

For people providing feedback on five or more medicines, you may find it easiest to:

Download the Excel template
Enter your feedback
Send us the Excel spreadsheet either:
1. Upload the template through the feedback form(external link) or
2. email tenderconsult@pharmac.govt.nz

Your feedback may be shared

When you give feedback on a consultation, your feedback becomes official information that Pharmac holds. Pharmac has legal responsibilities for how we manage this official information, under laws such as the Official Information Act and Privacy Act.

Pharmac may receive a request from people for official information, which could include your feedback. Legally, Pharmac must consider whether your feedback should be released.

We will consider your views when assessing whether the feedback has to be released. Tell us if there is anything about your feedback that you would prefer wasn’t released.

If your feedback is proposed for release, then Pharmac will contact you, unless there is a legal reason that we can't.

Please note that Pharmac collects and holds your information in line with our Privacy Statement.

Contact us

If you have questions or require assistance, please email us at tenderconsult@pharmac.govt.nz