Consultation on the draft 2026/27: Invitation to Tender for industry

Overview

Pharmac | Te Pātaka Whaioranga is seeking feedback from pharmaceutical suppliers, distributors, wholesalers, and other interested parties on the draft 2026/27 Invitation to Tender.

We are seeking feedback on the draft 2026/27 Invitation to Tender (ITT). The list of medicines proposed for inclusion in the 2026/27 ITT is still under development and may change before the final 2026/27 ITT is issued. In particular we are seeking feedback on:

• the draft tender list.
• the draft tender agreement (contract).

We are also seeking feedback from medical groups and people who take medicines.

Healthcare professionals consultation

Consumer consultation

Suppliers’ guide to Pharmac’s annual tender process(external link)

Decision to remove option for Alternative Commercial Proposals

Previously, Pharmac has provided suppliers with the option to submit proposals for pharmaceuticals included in the draft tender list as an alternative to those pharmaceuticals being tendered in the final ITT. The option to submit Alternative Commercial Proposals (ACPs) in the 2026/27 ITT has been removed.

During consultation on the draft 2025/26 ITT, Pharmac proposed removing the ACP option for the 2026/27 ITT due to resource considerations and the low number of ACPs that are ultimately progressed. After considering the feedback received, Pharmac has decided not to include an ACP option in the 2026/27 ITT or in future Invitations to Tender.

Key points to note for the 2026/27 Invitation to Tender

• The contract terms are substantively similar to the 2025/26 ITT.
• The definition of ‘Unit Volume’ in the draft tender agreement (contract) has been revised to include wholesalers and other claimants, in addition to community pharmacies. This change reflects the inclusion of ambulance supply within community supply.

Consultation on possible brand changes through the Invitation to Tender

Pharmac will undertake further consultation on potential brand changes following the closure and assessment of bids for the 2026/27 ITT, where a brand change is being considered. This consultation is intended to help us better understand what a brand change could mean for people and how we can best support any potential change.

For more information on why and how this consultation is undertaken, please refer to the 2026 consultation on possible brand changes(external link) through the annual tender.

Additional Special Terms

We have included Additional Special Terms in the draft 2026/27 ITT contract [PDF, 1 MB] for somatropin injections. This clause would require any potential suppliers to offer education, training and support resources to patients and healthcare professionals, and related products required for the safe handling and use of the supplier’s somatropin product (such as associated devices, needles, needle clippers, sharps bins).

The full Additional Special Terms for somatropin can be found in the draft 2026/27 ITT contract [PDF, 1 MB] and are also outlined below. Any feedback on these Additional Special Terms would be useful to inform the final contract.

Somatropin

You will provide the following resources and related products at no cost for the Pharmaceutical somatropin:

• Providing education, training and support resources to endocrinologists, paediatric endocrinologists, nurses, pharmacies and patients.
• The resources shall be provided to all endocrinologists, paediatric endocrinologists, nurses, pharmacies and patients in New Zealand or when requested by any relevant party.
• The resources will be provided to patients when their prescription is filled and directly to all endocrinologists, paediatric endocrinologists, nurses and pharmacies before the start of the Principal Supply Period.
• The provision of related products for your proposed brand of somatropin for the benefit of patients. The related products will be delivered to the nominated delivery address of the prescribed patient.

For the purposes of this clause:

“resources” shall include but not be limited to the:

• Providing patient training and medical education and support for endocrinologists, paediatric endocrinologists, nurses and pharmacies on the use of somatropin devices, including a requirement for clinical educators to talk specifically with patients and for an 0800 number to be available for patients to contact with any further queries;
• Provision of training materials (DVDs, pamphlets, leaflets, brochures) to new patients;
• Providing presentations and/or demonstrations on the use of somatropin devices to patients and/or healthcare professionals; and

“Related products”, which shall be inclusive of the replacement of any defective related product, shall include but not be limited to devices, needles, needle clippers, sharps bins, and other products which are required for the safe treatment of your brand of somatropin.

New medicines

This year’s draft ITT includes 34 tender items that have not been included in the annual tender previously and 28 tender items that are not currently listed on the Pharmaceutical Schedule. These tender items are as follows:

Information provided for each medicine

For each medicine (as defined by chemical name, form, and strength), we have provided where applicable:

• the current subsidy paid per unit (e.g. capsule, tablet, injection) as of 1 July 2026. These values are ex-manufacturer excluding GST.
• the number of units funded in the community per year in the year ending 30 June 2026. These may be partially funded or full funded.
• an estimate of the annual community-market value based on the current subsidy paid per unit. This is estimated by multiplying the volume of units used in the year ending 30 June 2026 by the current listed unit subsidy as of 1 July 2026.
• comments specifically relating to the tender item and/or its current listing on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.
• please note that these volumes and figures are approximate and indicative only. Pharmac makes no representation as to the accuracy of these volumes and figures or the level of sales or likely sales of any tender item.

Explanation of terms, symbols, and abbreviations

“Tab” means tablet, “cap” means capsule, “liq” means liquid, “inj” means injection, “suppos” means suppository, “grans” mean granules and “OP” means original pack to be dispensed.

Symbols used in the draft tender list:

Key dates

Consultation on the 2026/27 Invitation to Tender

Thursday 30 July 2026 – Consultation begins

Thursday 10 September 2026 – Consultation closes

September 2026 –Tender Clinical Advisory Committee meets

September 2026 – ‘Practice’ Invitation to Tender issued

Release of the 2026/27 Invitation to Tender

Late October/Early November 2026 – Final Invitation to Tender issued

December 2026 – Invitation to Tender closes

February 2027 – Tender Clinical Advisory Committee meets

April 2027- Potential brand change consultation is released

Unresolved tender bids from previous Invitations to Tender

See Appendix One below for all tenders from previous Invitations to Tender that won’t be resolved before the end of July 2026.

We aim to resolve any unresolved tenders from the 2024/25 and 2025/26 Invitations to Tender before issuing the final 2026/27 ITT, however, please note that these may not all be resolved before the 2026/27 ITT is issued.

Other potential changes to the Pharmaceutical Schedule

The tender can result in substantial price reductions, and we can use the savings to fund new medicines. We also use the savings to fund changes to the tendered medicines. For example:

• If the medicine is currently partially funded, it could become fully funded if the tender was awarded.
• The medicine could be added to the all-at-once (‘stat’) dispensing list, which would mean that people could collect prescriptions all at once, rather than monthly.
• We might change or remove funding restrictions so more people can use it (for example, a Special Authority restriction, endorsement, or prescriber-type restriction). We might consult on this separately before making a decision.
• Some medicines or formulations may become funded for the first time through the tender.

We are interested in your feedback on potential changes for the medicines we are tendering.

You can see the Pharmaceutical Schedule for all dispensing and funding restrictions.

Usage data for ‘PCT only’ medicines

The table below contains ‘PCT only’ funded usage data for the year ended 30 June 2026 for tender items included in the 2026/27 ITT. These volumes are approximate and indicative only. Pharmac makes no representation as to the accuracy of these figures or the level of sales or likely sales of any tender item.  

Electronic tender (eTender) system

The 2026/27 ITT will be distributed via Pharmac’s electronic tendering portal (In-Tend).

The portal requires companies to register for a user account. Details of how to register will be distributed before we release the final 2026/27 ITT. A ‘practice’ tender will be released in September/October 2026 for users who wish to familiarise themselves with the portal.

Please let us know if the contact details for the person responsible for submitting tender bids have changed for your company by emailing tender@pharmac.govt.nz

To provide feedback

Please provide feedback using one of the options below by Thursday 10 September 2026.

All feedback received before the closing date will be considered by Pharmac’s Board or its delegate prior to finalising the 2026/27 ITT.

Option 1 – Feedback form(external link)

Use the feedback form. 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 – Feedback upload (Excel)

Please use this option if you are indicating your intention to submit a tender bid. 

It may also be easiest to use this option if you are providing feedback on multiple medicines.

1. Download the Excel template [XLSX, 35 KB]
2. Enter your feedback
3. Send us the Excel spreadsheet by uploading the template through the feedback form(external link)

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. Tell us if there is anything about your feedback that you would prefer wasn’t released and we will take that into consideration

Appendix One