March 2026 Tender notification
What we’re doing
Pharmac is announcing recent decisions from its Annual Invitation to Tender (ITT) process. This notification includes:
- details about decisions on medicines included in the 2024/25 ITT and in the 2025/26 ITT
You can see the full technical details of the tender decisions in the Tender Results section.
The table below provides a summary of the outcomes for the remaining unresolved medicines included in the May 2025 and July 2025 additional brand change consultations.
|
Medicine |
What medicine is used for |
Outcome |
|---|---|---|
|
Calcitriol cap 0.25 mcg |
A form of vitamin D, used for people with severe kidney disease to lower their parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. |
Still under consideration. |
|
Calcitriol cap 0.5 mcg |
Still under consideration. |
|
|
Calcium gluconate Inj 10% |
Used to treat acute hypocalcaemia; hypocalcaemic tetany; hyperkalaemia with secondary cardiac toxicity; and hypermagnesaemia. |
Still under consideration. |
|
Carmustine inj 100 mg vial |
Used to treat multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, and brain tumours |
No brand change. |
|
Iron (as Ferric Carboxymaltose) inj 50 mg per ml, 10 ml vial |
An iron infusion used to treat iron-deficiency or anemia. |
Still under consideration. |
|
Ivermectin tab 3 mg |
Used to treat certain types of parasite infections, and for scabies when other treatments have not worked well. |
Still under consideration. |
|
Methenamine (hexamine) Hippurate tab 1 g |
Used to prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs). |
Still under consideration. |
|
Nilotinib cap 150 mg |
Used to treat newly diagnosed chronic phase Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukaemia, chronic or accelerated phase Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukaemia resistant or intolerant to previous therapy. |
Still under consideration. |
|
Nilotinib cap 200 mg |
Still under consideration. |
|
|
Raltegravir potassium tab 600 mg |
Used for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in combination with other antiretroviral drugs. |
Still under consideration. |
|
Sunscreens, propriety SPF 50+ or greater |
Used to help protect your skin from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet (UV) light when outdoors. |
Still under consideration. |
|
Teriparatide inj 250 mcg per ml |
Used to treat osteoporosis (bone loss). |
Declined. |
|
Water for injection purified for inj, 500 ml bag |
Used to dissolve or dilute medicines which may then be injected. It can also be used for washing and cleaning purposes during minor surgical procedures, and to clean wounds. |
Still under consideration. |
|
Xylometazoline nasal spray 0.1% |
Used to help nasal congestion. |
Still under consideration. |
Why we’re doing this
Pharmac’s annual tender process allows suppliers to bid to be the main supplier of off-patent medicines. This year’s tender is expected to free up between $30 million and $50 million, which will be reinvested into funding new treatments.
Following feedback from previous brand changes, Pharmac introduced a new consultation step to better engage with stakeholders. In response, we received feedback on the items included in the 2024/25 ITT, which helped shape our decisions.
How your feedback helped
The feedback received was considered as part of the decision-making process and has helped shape our implementation activities to support people through this brand change. We want to thank everyone who took the time to share their feedback. We heard from a range of people including healthcare professionals, advocacy groups and users of medicines. You provided feedback about:
- packaging and labelling considerations
- the resources and communications needed to support a brand change
- the people who may need additional support when undergoing a brand change
Who may be most interested
- People who use funded medicines
- Healthcare professionals
- Advocacy groups
- Suppliers
If you have any questions about the decisions in this notification, you can email us at enquiry@pharmac.govt.nz; or call our toll free number (9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday) on 0800 660 050.
Tender results – Invitation to Tender 2024/24 & 2025/26
Pharmac has resolved to award or not award tenders for Principal Supply Status for some products included in the 2024/25 Invitation to Tender dated 31 October 2024 and in the 2025/26 Invitation to Tender dated 3 November 2025.
Some of the Pharmaceuticals that will be delisted when the period of Principal Supply Status commences may be subject to existing listing contracts with Pharmac. Suppliers of Pharmaceuticals that are subject to such contracts should continue to supply their Pharmaceutical under those contracts. Pharmac will continue to subsidise those Pharmaceuticals accordingly until such time as those Pharmaceuticals are delisted.
Notification of Product Changes (NOPC) forms
Please note that for any changes (price change, pack size change, new listing etc) to be effective in the Pharmaceutical Schedule (including Section H), suppliers are required to submit a Notification of Product Changes (NOPC) form to Pharmac, the Pharmacy Guild and the NZULM by:
- For new listings, by 4pm on the 12th of April 2026 or the 5th of the month prior to listing, whichever is earlier
- For price changes, by 4pm on the 12th of the month prior to the date of subsidy change
Pharmac cannot list a product (and Pharmacies cannot claim) without this information. More information about this process, and a copy of the NOPC form can be found on our website.
Suppliers are required to ensure that a Pharmacode has been obtained from the Pharmacy Guild of New Zealand(external link) and that a CTPP code has been obtained from the New Zealand Universal List of Medicines(external link). Pharmacodes and CTPP codes must be provided to Pharmac by the 5th of the month prior to the date of listing, or 10 business days following the market notification date (whichever is earliest). Pharmac cannot list a product (and Pharmacies cannot claim) without the correct Pharmacode.
- 30 March 2026 Tender Notification [PDF 407 KB]
2024/25 Tender – Principal Supply Status applies until 30 June 2028
Hospital Pharmaceutical tenders – Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule.
The decisions were as follows:
1. Tenders awarded to currently listed pharmaceuticals where no other brand is listed (no brand change)
|
Chemical name |
Presentation; |
Current pack price |
New pack price |
Principal Supply brand |
Date of subsidy change |
Principal Supply date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Carmustine1 |
Inj 100 mg vial; 1 vial |
$710.00 |
$710.00 |
BiCNU (Arrotex) |
1 July 2026 |
1 December 2026 |
|
1The price and subsidy of carmustine (PCT only – Specialist) in Section B of the Pharmaceutical Schedule will also be maintained at the above price. |
||||||
2025/26 Tender – Principal Supply Status applies until 30 June 2029
Community Pharmaceutical tenders – Section B of the Pharmaceutical Schedule
The decisions were as follows:
1. Tenders awarded to currently listed pharmaceuticals where no other brand is listed (no brand change)
|
Chemical name |
Presentation; |
Current pack price |
New pack price |
Principal Supply brand |
Date of subsidy change |
Principal Supply date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Paracetamol |
Tab 500 mg; 1000 tab blister pack |
$19.75 |
$12.06 |
Pacimol (Miro) |
1 July 2026 |
1 December 2026 |
Hospital Pharmaceutical tenders – Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule.
2. Tenders awarded to currently listed pharmaceuticals where no other brand is listed (no brand change)
|
Chemical name |
Presentation; |
Current pack price |
New pack price |
Principal Supply brand |
DV Limit |
Date of subsidy change |
Principal Supply date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Paracetamol |
Tab 500 mg; 1000 tab blister pack |
$19.75 |
$12.06 |
Pacimol (Miro) |
5% |
1 July 2026 |
1 December 2026 |
Tender declines – Products where no tender is to be awarded for Principal Supply Status
Pharmac has resolved not to award tenders for Principal Supply Status for the following products listed in the 2024/25 Invitation to Tender, dated 31 October 2024.
|
Chemical Name |
Line Item |
|---|---|
|
Teriparatide (current access) |
Inj 250 mcg per ml |
|
Teriparatide (widened access) |
Inj 250 mcg per ml |
Pharmac has resolved not to award tenders for Principal Supply Status for the following products listed in the 2025/26 Invitation to Tender, dated 3 November 2025.
|
Chemical Name |
Line Item |
|---|---|
|
Fludarabine phosphate |
Tab 10 mg |
|
Glibenclamide |
Tab 5 mg |
|
Hyoscine (Scopolamine) |
Patch 1 mg per 72 hours |
|
Ivabradine |
Tab 5 mg |
|
Propylthiouracil |
Tab 50 mg |
|
Sodium phosphate with phosphoric acid |
Enema 10% with phosphoric acid 6.58% |
|
Telmisartan with amlodipine |
Tab 40 mg with amlodipine 10 mg |
|
Telmisartan with amlodipine |
Tab 40 mg with amlodipine 5 mg |
|
Telmisartan with amlodipine |
Tab 80 mg with amlodipine 10 mg |
|
Telmisartan with amlodipine |
Tab 80 mg with amlodipine 5 mg |
|
Triamcinolone acetonide |
Crm 0.02% |
|
Triamcinolone acetonide |
Oint 0.02% |
What you told us
Please refer to the July 2025 Tender Notification II which outlines the themes identified in the consultation feedback received for medicines included in the 2024/25 ITT.