Oral feed 1.5kcal/ml: Discontinued
The suppliers have discontinued CORD oral feed 1.5kcal/ml (Pulmocare). This product will be delisted from the Pharmaceutical Schedule on 1 October 2020.
Pulmocare discontinued
The suppliers have discontinued CORD oral feed 1.5kcal/ml (Pulmocare). This product will be delisted from the Pharmaceutical Schedule on 1 October 2020.
Use Ensure Plus or Fortisip instead
Clinical Advice received from members of the Special Foods Subcommittee of PTAC has indicated that oral feed 1.5kcal/ml products, Ensure Plus and Fortisip, may be acceptable alternatives for patients affected by this discontinuation.
Funding restrictions changed for Ensure Plus and Fortisip
On 1 March 2020 funding restrictions for oral feed 1.5kcal/ml (Ensure Plus and Fortisip) changed. This change will let patients access Fortisip and Ensure Plus oral feed 1.5kcal/ml, if they would previously have accessed Pulmocare.
This change makes an alternative oral supplement available immediately for patients with COPD and hypercapnia measuring >55 mmHg.
The amendments are as follows (additions in bold):
Subsidy by endorsement – Additional subsidy by endorsement is available for patients being bolus fed through a feeding tube, who have severe epidermolysis bullosa, or as exclusive enteral nutrition in children under the age of 18 years for the treatment of Crohn’s disease, or for patients with COPD and hypercapnia, defined as a CO2 value exceeding 55mmHg. The prescription must be endorsed accordingly.
Other alternatives
PHARMAC welcomes any clinical advice regarding other available alternatives for this patient group.
More information
If you have any questions about this change, contact PHARMAC on:
- enquiry@pharmac.govt.nz
- 0800 660 050