Pharmac seeks feedback on updates to COVID-19 antiviral medicines

Pharmac has today opened consultation on a proposal to simplify the criteria for people accessing COVID-19 antiviral medicines, along with the process for funding and supply of these medicines.

Pharmac currently funds two COVID-19 antivirals for people who meet the eligibility criteria. Antiviral medicines help to prevent people with a COVID-19 infection from becoming severely unwell.

“We’re proposing to change the way we describe who is at high risk from developing a COVID-19 infection,” says Pharmac’s Director Pharmaceuticals, Geraldine MacGibbon.

The change Pharmac is proposing will mean that all people who are aged 50 years or older with COVID-19 and are determined to be at high risk could access funded antivirals if they need them.

“We’re also proposing to change to how we manage the funding and supply of these medicines,” MacGibbon says.

The management and supply of COVID-19 treatments was unique due to the need to respond to the global COVID-19 pandemic, but Pharmac is now working to align the funding and supply of COVID-19 antivirals with our normal process, MacGibbon says.

Currently Pharmac buys COVID-19 antivirals upfront from the medicines budget, and then supplies them to pharmacies and Health NZ hospitals at no cost.

“The change we are proposing will mean pharmacies and Health NZ hospitals can order what they need from wholesalers and claim back costs from Pharmac. This change will align the management of COVID-19 antivirals with other funded medicines in New Zealand,” MacGibbon says.

“We need your feedback to tell us if this proposal will meet the needs of New Zealanders who need access to this medicine. Your input is valuable to us and has an impact on the decisions we make,” MacGibbon says.

The consultation is open now until Friday 30 May. If the proposal is approved, changes would take effect from 1 September and 1 October 2025.