April 2018 tender notification

PHARMAC has resolved to award tenders for Sole Subsidised Supply Status and Hospital Supply Status for some products included in the 2016/17 Invitation to Tender, dated 3 November 2016 and the 2017/18 Invitation to Tender, dated 2 November 2017.

Some of the pharmaceuticals that will be delisted when the period of Sole Subsidised Supply/Hospital 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 pharmaceuticals 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, Containered Trade Product Pack (CTPP) codes and Pharmacodes

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 notify any changes to PHARMAC and the Pharmacy Guild of New Zealand by 4pm on the 12th of the month prior to the date of subsidy change. More information and NOPC forms can be found on our website.

Suppliers are required to ensure that a Pharmacode has been obtained from the Pharmacy Guild of New Zealand  (http://www.pgnz.org.nz/about-us-1/pharmacode(external link)) and that a CTPP code has been obtained from the New Zealand Universal List of Medicines (http://www.nzulm.org.nz/sponsors(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.

2016/17 Tender – Sole Subsidised Supply Status or Hospital Supply Status applies until 30 June 2020

Community pharmaceutical tenders – Section B of the Pharmaceutical Schedule

1.  Tenders awarded to pharmaceuticals where at least one other brand is listed.

The decisions were as follows:

Chemical name Presentation;
Pack size and type
Current subsidy (and price) New subsidy (and price) Sole supply brand (Supplier) Listing date Date of reference pricing of other listed brands Sole Subsidised Supply date (and delisting of other listed brands) Brand (Supplier) affected by reference pricing and delisting
Pregnancy tests – HCG urine Cassette, 40 test OP $17.60 $12.00 Smith BioMed Rapid Pregnancy Test
(Smith BioMed (NZ))
1 July 2018 1 September 2018 1 December 2018 EasyCheck (Phoenix MedCare)
Tamoxifen citrate Tab 10 mg, 60 tablet, blister pack $19.50 per 100 tabs $11.75 Tamoxifen Sandoz
(Novartis)
1 November 2018 N/A 1 April 2019 Genox (Mylan)
Tamoxifen citrate Tab 20 mg, 60 tablet, blister pack $12.50 per 100 tabs $5.60 Tamoxifen Sandoz
(Novartis)
1 November 2018 1 January 2019 1 April 2019 Genox (Mylan)

Hospital pharmacetical tenders - Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule

2.  Tenders awarded to pharmaceuticals where at least one other brand is listed.

The decisions were as follows: 

Chemical Name Presentation;
Pack size and type
Current price New price Hospital Supply Brand
(Supplier)
DVLimit Listing date Hospital Supply Status date Brand (Supplier) affected by delisting
Pregnancy tests – HCG urine * Cassette, 40 test $17.60 $12.00 Smith BioMed Rapid Pregnancy Test
(Smith BioMed (NZ))
N/A 1 July 2018 N/A EasyCheck (Phoenix MedCare)**
Tamoxifen citrate Tab 10 mg, 60 tablet, blister pack $19.50 per 100 tabs $11.75 Tamoxifen Sandoz
(Novartis)
1% 1 November 2018 1 January 2019 Genox (Mylan)
Tamoxifen citrate Tab 20 mg, 60 tablet, blister pack $12.50 per 100 tabs $5.60 Tamoxifen Sandoz
(Novartis)
1% 1 November 2018 1 January 2019 Genox (Mylan)
*Please note that Smith BioMed’s brand of pregnancy tests will be listed in Part III of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule without Hospital Supply Status as the tender was for community Sole Supply Status only.
**Please note the Easy Check brand of pregnancy tests will be delisted in Part III of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 September 2018

Schedule 2017/18 Tender – Sole Subsidised Supply Status or Hospital Supply Status applies until 30 June 2021

Community pharmaceutical tenders – Section B of the Pharmaceutical 

3. Tenders awarded to currently listed pharmaceuticals where no other brand is listed.

The decisions were as follows:

Chemical name Presentation;
Pack size and type
Current subsidy (and price) New subsidy (and price) Sole supply brand (Supplier) Date of subsidy change Sole Subsidised Supply date
Cinacalcet* Tab 30 mg, 28 tablet, blister pack $403.70 $210.30 Sensipar
(Amgen)
1 July 2018 1 October 2018
Compound electrolytes with glucose [dextrose] Soln with electrolytes (2 x 500 ml), 1,000 ml bottle OP $6.55 $6.55 Pedialyte – bubblegum
(Abbott)
1 September 2018 1 December 2018
Naproxen Tab 250 mg, 500 tablet, bottle pack $18.06 $32.69 Noflam 250
(Mylan)
1 October 2018 1 January 2019
Naproxen Tab 500 mg, 250 tablet, bottle pack $18.91 $22.19 Noflam 500
(Mylan)
1 October 2018 1 January 2019
*These products will be supplied at the Price from the 1st day of the month prior to the listing date, as per Schedule 5, clause 3.1 (b)(II) of the 2017/18 Invitation to Tender.

4. Tenders awarded to pharmaceuticals where at least one other brand is listed.

The decisions were as follows:

Chemical name Presentation;
Pack size and type
Current subsidy (and price) New subsidy (and price) Sole supply brand (Supplier) Listing date Date of reference pricing of other listed brands Sole Subsidised Supply date (and delisting of other listed brands) Brand (Supplier) affected by reference pricing and delisting
Aqueous cream Crm 500 g jar $1.99 $1.92 Boucher
(Boucher and Muir (NZ) Limited)
1 October 2018 1 December 2018 1 March 2019 AFT SLS-free (AFT)
Atropine sulphate Inj 600 mcg per ml, 1 ml ampoule, 10 injection, glass ampoule $71.00 per 50 inj $12.07 Martindale
(Max Health)
1 June 2018 1 August 2018 1 November 2018 AstraZeneca (AstraZeneca)
Bimatoprost Eye drops 0.03%, 3 ml bottle OP $3.65 $3.30 Bimatoprost Multichem
(Mulitchem)
1 December 2018 1 February 2019 1 May 2019 Bimatoprost Actavis (Actavis)
Calamine Crm, aqueous, BP 100 g tube $1.49 $1.26 healthE Calamine Aqueous Cream BP
(Jaychem)
1 September 2018 1 November 2018 1 February 2019 Pharmacy Health (API)
Clonidine hydrochloride Inj 150 mcg per ml, 1 ml ampoule 10 glass ampoule $16.07 per 5 inj $25.96 Medsurge
(Medsurge Healthcare)
1 June 2018 1 August 2018 1 November 2018 Catapres(Boehringer Ingelheim (NZ) Ltd
Cyproterone acetate Tab 50 mg, 50 tablet, blister pack $15.87 $13.17 Siterone
(Rex Medical Ltd)
1 October 2018 1 December 2018 1 March 2019 Procur (Douglas)
Cyproterone acetate Tab 100 mg, 50 tablet, blister pack $30.40 $26.75 Siterone
(Rex Medical Ltd)
1 October 2018 1 December 2018 1 March 2019 Procur (Douglas)
Dorzolamide with timolol Eye drops 2% with timolol 0.5%, 5 ml dropper bottle OP $3.45 $2.87 Dortimopt
(Mylan)
1 November 2018 1 January 2019 1 April 2019 Arrow-Dortim (Actavis)
Isotretinoin Cap 10 mg, 120 capsule, blister pack $14.96 $13.34 Oratane
(Douglas)
1 August 2018 1 October 2018 1 January 2019 Isotane 10 (Mylan)
Isotretinoin Cap 20 mg, 120 capsule, blister pack $23.12 $20.49 Oratane
(Douglas)
1 August 2018 1 October 2018  1 January 2019 Isotane 20 (Mylan)
Methotrexate Tab 2.5 mg, 90 tablet, blister pack $3.18 per 30 tab $8.05 Trexate
(Rex Medical Ltd)
1 November 2018 1 January 2019 1 April 2019 Trexate (30 tab pack)
Methotrexate Tab 10 mg, 90 tablet, blister pack $21.00 per 50 tab $31.75 Trexate
(Rex Medical Ltd)
1 November 2018 1 January 2019 1 April 2019 Trexate (50 tab pack)
Oxycodone hydrochloride Tab controlled-release 5 mg 20 tablet, blister pack $2.63 $2.15 Oxycodone Sandoz
(Novartis)
1 February 2019 1 April 2019 1 July 2019 BNM (InterPharma)
Oxycodone hydrochloride Tab controlled-release 10 mg, 20 tablet, blister pack $2.76 $2.15 Oxycodone Sandoz
(Novartis)
1 February 2019 1 April 2019 1 July 2019 BNM (InterPharma)
Oxycodone hydrochloride Tab controlled-release 20 mg, 20 tablet, blister pack $4.72 $2.15 Oxycodone Sandoz
(Novartis)
1 February 2019 1 April 2019 1 July 2019 BNM (InterPharma)
Oxycodone hydrochloride Tab controlled-release 40 mg, 20 tablet, blister pack $7.69 $3.20 Oxycodone Sandoz
(Novartis)
1 February 2019 1 April 2019 1 July 2019 BNM (InterPharma)
Oxycodone hydrochloride Tab controlled-release 80 mg, 20 tablet, blister pack $14.11 $10.98 Oxycodone Sandoz
(Novartis)
1 February 2019 1 April 2019 1 July 2019 BNM (InterPharma)
Solifenacin succinate Tab 5 mg1, 30 tablet, blister pack $37.50 $3.00 Solifenacin Mylan
(Mylan)
1 October 2018 1 December 2018 1 March 2019 Vesicare (Seqirus)
Solifenacin succinate Tab 10 mg1, 30 tablet, blister pack $37.50 $5.50

Solifenacin Mylan
(Mylan)

1 October 2018 1 December 2018 1 March 2019 Vesicare (Seqirus)
1  Special Authority restrictions will be removed from the Vesicare brand of solifenacin succinate tab 5 mg and 10 mg from 1 December 2018.  Solifenacin Mylan tab 5 mg and 10 mg will be listed without Special Authority.

5. Tenders awarded to pharmaceuticals where no brand is listed.

The decisions were as follows:

Chemical name Presentation; Pack size and type Pack price Sole supply brand (Supplier) Listing date Sole Subsidised Supply date
Isotretinoin Cap 5 mg, 60 capsule, blister pack* $8.14 Oratane (Douglas) 1 August 2018 1 November 2018
* Current Special Authority restrictions (SA1475) will also apply to isotretinoin cap 5 mg.

Hospital pharmaceutical tenders – Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule

6. Tenders awarded to currently listed pharmaceuticals where no other brand is listed.

The decisions were as follows:

Chemical Name Presentation; Pack size and type Current price New price Hospital Supply Brand
(Supplier)
DVLimit Listing date Hospital Supply Status date
Cinacalcet* Tab 30 mg, 28 tablet, blister pack $403.70 $210.30 Sensipar
(Amgen)
1% 1 July 2018 1 September 2018
Linezolid Tab 600 mg, 10 tablet, blister pack $800.00 $553.77 Zyvox
(Pfizer)
1% 1 August 2018 1 October 2018
Naproxen Tab 250 mg, 500 tablet, bottle pack $18.06 $32.69 Noflam 250
(Mylan)
1% 1 October 2018 1 December 2018
Naproxen Tab 500 mg, 500 tablet, bottle pack $18.91 $22.19 Noflam 500
(Mylan)
1% 1 October 2018 1 December 2018
* These products will be supplied at the Price from the 1st day of the month prior to the listing date, as per Schedule 5, clause 3.1 (b)(II) of the 2017/18 Invitation to Tender.


7. Tenders awarded to pharmaceuticals where at least one other brand is listed.

The decisions were as follows:

Chemical Name Presentation; Pack size and type Current price New price Hospital Supply Brand (Supplier) DVLimit Listing date Hospital Supply Status date Brand (Supplier) affected by delisting
Aqueous cream Crm 500 g jar $1.99 $1.92

Boucher
(Boucher and Muir (NZ) Limited)

1% 1 October 2018 1 December 2018 AFT SLS-free (AFT)
Atropine sulphate Inj 600 mcg per ml, 1 ml ampoule, 10 injection, glass ampoule $71.00 per 50 inj $12.07 Martindale
(Max Health)
1% 1 June 2018 1 August 2018 AstraZeneca (AstraZeneca)
Bimatoprost Eye drops 0.03%, 3 ml bottle $3.65 $3.30 Bimatoprost Multichem
(Multichem)
1% 1 December 2018 1 February 2019 Bimatroprost Actavis (Actavis)
Calamine Crm, aqueous, BP, 100 g tube $1.49 $1.26 healthE Calamine Aqueous Cream BP
(Jaychem)
1% 1 September 2018 1 November 2018 Pharmacy Health (API)
Clonidine hydrochloride Inj 150 mcg per ml, 1 ml ampoule, 10 glass ampoule $16.07 per 5 inj $25.96 Medsurge
(Medsurge Healthcare)
1% 1 June 2018 1 August 2018 Catapres (Boehringer Ingelheim)
Cyproterone acetate Tab 50 mg, 50 tablet, blister pack $15.87 $13.17 Siterone
(Rex Medical Ltd)
1% 1 October 2018 1 December 2018 Procur (Douglas)
Cyproterone acetate Tab 100 mg, 50 tablet, blister pack $30.40 $26.75 Siterone
(Rex Medical Ltd)
1% 1 October 2018 1 December 2018 Procur (Douglas)
Dopamine hydrochloride Inj 40 mg per ml, 5 ml ampoule, 10 glass ampoule $16.89 per 5 $29.73 Max Health Ltd
(Max Health)
1% 1 July 2018 1 September 2018 DBL Sterile Dopamine Concentrate (Pfizer)
Dorzolamide with timolol Eye drops 2% with timolol 0.5%, 5 ml dropper bottle $3.45 $2.87 Dortimopt
(Mylan)
1% 1 November 2018 1 January 2019 Arrow-Dortim (Actavis)
Flumazenil Inj 0.1 mg per ml, 5 ml ampoule, 5 glass ampoule $85.05 $66.34 Hameln
(Max Health)
1% 1 October 2018 1 December 2018 Anexate (Roche)
Isotretinoin Cap 10 mg, 120 capsule, blister pack $14.96 $13.34 Oratane
(Douglas)
1% 1 August 2018 1 October 2018 Isotane 10 (Mylan)
Isotretinoin Cap 20 mg, 120 capsule, blister pack $23.12 $20.49 Oratane
(Douglas)
1% 1 August 2018 1 October 2018 Isotane 20 (Mylan)
Ketamine Inj 100 mg per ml, 2 ml vial, 5 injection, vial $47.05 $31.50 Ketalar
(Pfizer)
1% 1 November 2018 1 January 2019 Ketamine-Claris(AFT) (ampoules)
Methotrexate Tab 2.5 mg, 90 tablet, blister pack $3.18 per 30 tab $8.05 Trexate
(Rex Medical Ltd)
1% 1 November 2018 1 January 2019 Trexate (30 tab pack)
Methotrexate Tab 10 mg, 90 tablet, blister pack $21.00 per 50 tab $31.75 Trexate
(Rex Medical Ltd)
1% 1 November 2018 1 January 2019 Trexate (50 tab pack)
Oxycodone hydrochloride Tab controlled-release 5 mg, 20 tablet, blister pack $2.63 $2.15 Oxycodone Sandoz
(Novartis)
1% 1 February 2019 1 April 2019 BNM (InterPharma)
Oxycodone hydrochloride Tab controlled-release 10 mg, 20 tablet, blister pack $2.76 $2.15 Oxycodone Sandoz
(Novartis)
1% 1 February 2019 1 April 2019 BNM (InterPharma)
Oxycodone hydrochloride Tab controlled-release 20 mg, 20 tablet, blister pack $4.72 $2.15 Oxycodone Sandoz(Novartis) 1% 1 February 2019 1 April 2019 BNM (InterPharma)
Oxycodone hydrochloride Tab controlled-release 40 mg, 20 tablet, blister pack $7.69 $3.20 Oxycodone Sandoz
(Novartis)
1% 1 February 2019 1 April 2019 BNM (InterPharma)
Oxycodone hydrochloride Tab controlled-release 80 mg, 20 tablet, blister pack $14.11 $10.98 Oxycodone Sandoz
(Novartis)
1% 1 February 2019 1 April 2019 BNM (InterPharma)
Solifenacin succinate Tab 5 mg1, 30 tablet, blister pack $37.50 $3.00 Solifenacin Mylan
(Mylan)
1% 1 October 2018 1 December 2018 Vesicare (Seqirus (NZ) Ltd)
Solifenacin succinate Tab 10 mg1, 30 tablet, blister pack $37.50 $5.50 Solifenacin Mylan
(Mylan)
1% 1 October 2018 1 December 2018 Vesicare (Seqirus (NZ) Ltd)
Tranexamic acid Inj 100 mg per ml, 5 ml ampoule, 5 glass ampoule $55.00 per 10 $6.95 Tranexamic-AFT
(AFT)
1% 1 July 2018 1 September 2018 Cyklokapron (Pfizer)
1 The Hospital Restriction will continue to apply to the Vesicare brand of solifenacin succinate tab 5 mg and 10 mg until it is delisted on 1 December 2018.  Solifenacin Mylan tab 5 mg and 10 mg will be listed without Hospital Restriction.

8. Tenders awarded to pharmaceuticals where no brand is listed.

The decisions were as follows:

Chemical name Presentation; Pack size and type Pack Price Hospital Supply Brand (Supplier) DVLimit Listing date Hospital Supply Status date
Compound electrolytes with glucose [dextrose] Soln with electrolytes (2 x 500 ml), 1,000 ml bottle $6.55 Pedialyte – bubblegum
(Abbott)
1% 1 September 2018 1 November 2018
Isotretinoin* Cap 5 mg, 60 capsule, blister pack $8.14 Oratane
(Douglas)
1% 1 August 2018 1 October 2018
Tranexamic acid Inj 100 mg per ml, 10 ml ampoule,  5 glass ampoule $10.95 Tranexamic-AFT
(AFT)
1% 1 July 2018 1 September 2018
* Current Special Authority restrictions (SA1475) will also apply to isotretinoin cap 5 mg.

Tender declines - Products where no tender is to be awarded for Sole Subsidised Supply Status or Hospital Supply Status

PHARMAC has resolved not to award tenders for Sole Subsidised Supply Status or Hospital Supply Status for the following products listed in the 2017/18 Invitation to Tender, dated 2 November 2017:

2015/16 Invitation to Tender

Chemical Name

Line Item

Atomoxetine

Cap 10 mg

Atomoxetine

Cap 18 mg

Atomoxetine

Cap 25 mg

Atomoxetine

Cap 40 mg

Atomoxetine

Cap 60 mg

Atomoxetine

Cap 80 mg

Atomoxetine

Cap 100 mg

2016/17 Invitation to Tender

Chemical Name

Line Item

Pregnancy tests

HCG urine, midstream

Pregnancy tests

HCG urine, dipstick

2017/18 Invitation to Tender

Chemical Name Line Item
Amiloride Tab 5 mg
Baclofen Oral liq
Calcitonin Inj 100 iu per ml, 1 ml
Carboplatin Inj 10 mg per ml, 5 ml
Ciclosporin Inj 50 mg per ml, 5 ml
Cinacalcet (widened access) Tab 30 mg
Clonidine Tab 150 mcg
Dexamethasone with framycetin and gramicidin Ear/eye drops 500 mcg with framycetin sulphate 5 mg and gramicidin 50 mcg per ml
Doxorubicin Inj 100 mg
Doxorubicin hydrochloride Inj 2 mg per ml, 5 ml
Epoprostenol Inj 0.5 mg vial
Epoprostenol Inj 1.5 mg vial
Etoposide Inj 20 mg per ml, 5 ml
Ferrous gluconate with ascorbic acid Tab 170 mg with ascorbic acid 40 mg
Ferrous sulphate with folic acid Tab long-acting 325 mg with folic acid 350 mcg
Fexofenadine hydrochloride Tab 120 mg
Fexofenadine hydrochloride Tab 180 mg
Fluorescin Inj 10%
Fosfomycin Powder for oral solution, 3 g sachet
Haloperidol decanoate Inj 100 mg per ml, 1 ml ampoule
Haloperidol decanoate Inj 50 mg per ml, 1 ml ampoule
Indomethacin Cap 50 mg
Hypromellose Eye drops 0.3% with dextran
Hypromellose Eye drops 0.5%
Indomethacin Cap long-acting 75 mg
Indomethacin Suppos 100 mg
Indomethacin Cap 25 mg
Indomethacin Inj 1 mg
Lorazepam Tab 0.5 mg
Metoprolol tartrate Tab long-acting 200 mg
Nitrofurantoin Tab modified-release 100 mg
Nitrofurantoin Tab modified-release 50 mg
Noradrenaline Inj 0.12 mg per ml, 50 syringe
Paclitaxel Inj 150 mg
Ramipril Cap 1.25 mg
Ramipril Cap 2.5 mg
Ramipril Cap 5 mg
Ramipril Cap 10 mg
Solifenacin succinate (current access) Tab 5 mg
Solifenacin succinate (current access) Tab 10 mg
Testosterone Transdermal patch 2.5 mg
Testosterone Transdermal patch 5 mg
Trimethoprim with sulphamethoxazole
[Co-trimoxazole]
Tab trimethoprim 80 mg and sulphamethoxazole 400 mg
Zidovudine [AZT] Inj 10 mg per ml, 20 ml vial

For products included in the 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18 Invitation to Tender where no announcement has yet been made, either a decision is still pending or is provisional, subject to the product gaining market approval and being available to supply, and subject to PHARMAC Board (or its delegate) approval. We will keep you informed of any updates regarding such tender products as decisions are made. 

If you have any queries regarding this notification, please contact PHARMAC on 0800 66 00 50.