Approval of proposal to list preservative free eye drops and amend the listings related to other eye drops

In summary, the effect of the decision is that:

In relation to preservative containing eye drops

• PHARMAC will no longer apply Sole Subsidised Supply to preservative containing eye drops and as a result:
  • Hypromellose 0.3% with dextran 0.1% eye drops, under the brand name Poly-Tears, will not be awarded Sole Subsidised Supply but will have subsidy and delisting protection until 30 June 2016 and will be listed in Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule;
  • Methopt (Hypromellose 0.5% eye drops) and Vistil (polyvinyl alcohol 1.4% eye drops), currently listed in Section B of the Pharmaceutical Schedule, will no longer be reference priced to Poly-Tears and will remain listed in Section B at the current price and subsidy ;
  • There will be no change to the listing of polyvinyl alcohol eye drops 3%, under the brand name Vistil Forte.

In relation to preservative free lubricating eye preparations

• Sodium hyaluronate eye drops 1 mg per ml under the brand name Hylo-Fresh, will be the only funded thin preservative free lubricating eye drops listed in Section B of the Pharmaceutical Schedule and will be listed in Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 July 2013; Macrogol 400 0.4% with propylene glycol 0.3% eye drops, under the brand name Systane Unit Dose, will be the only funded thick preservative free lubricating eye drops listed in Section B of the Pharmaceutical Schedule and will be listed in Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 August 2013;
• Carbomer ophthalmic gel 0.3%, under the brand name Poly Gel, will be the only funded preservative free lubricating eye gel listed in Section B of the Pharmaceutical Schedule as and will be listed in Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 August 2013;
• All preservative free lubricating eye preparations will be subject to Special Authority criteria.

In relation to eye ointments

• Retinol palmitate 138 mcg per g ophthalmic ointment, under the brand name VitA-POS, will be listed in Section B and Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 July 2013.

Details of the decision

Preserved lubricating eye preparations

Thin preserved lubricating eye drops

From 1 August 2013 the price and subsidy applying to hypromellose 0.3% with dextran 0.1% eye drops (Poly-Tears) will be amended in Section B and will be listed in Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule as follows (prices and subsidies expressed ex-manufacturer, excluding GST):

Poly-Tears will have subsidy and delisting protection until 30 June 2016.

All other thin preserved lubricating eye drops will remain listed in Section B of the Pharmaceutical Schedule (i.e. Methopt and Vistil) at the current price and subsidy.

Thick preserved lubricating eye drops

The price and subsidy applying to polyvinyl alcohol eye drops 3 % (Vistil Forte) will remain unchanged

Preserved lubricating eye gel

For the avoidance of doubt, no preserved lubricating eye gel will be listed in Section B and Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule and this portion of the RFP is closed.

Preservative free lubricating eye preparations

Thin preservative free lubricating eye drops

From 1 July 2013 the following thin preservative free eye drops will be listed in Section B and Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule at the following price and subsidy (expressed ex-manufacturer, excluding GST):

Hylo-Fresh will be the only brand of thin preservative free eye drops subsidised in the community (Sole Subsidised Supply) from 1 July 2013 until 30 June 2016.

A confidential rebate will apply to all community funded dispensings of Hylo-Fresh.

Thick preservative free lubricating eye drops

From 1 August 2013 the following thick preservative free eye drop will be listed in Section B and Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule at the following price and subsidy (expressed ex-manufacturer, excluding GST):

Systane Unit Dose will be the only brand of thick preservative free eye drops subsidised in the community (Sole Subsidised Supply) from 1 August 2013 until 30 June 2016

Preservative free lubricating eye gel

From 1 August 2013 the following thick preservative free eye gel will be listed in Section B and Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule at the following price and subsidy (expressed ex-manufacturer, excluding GST):

Poly Gel will be the only brand of preservative free eye gel subsidised in the community (Sole Subsidised Supply) from 1 August 2013 until 30 June 2016