Decision to fund Sustagen Formula and Alfamino

What we’re doing

We're pleased to announce a decision to fully fund Sustagen Hospital Formula Active powder (Sustagen Formula) and Alfamino for people who meet certain eligibility criteria.  

From 1 July 2021:

• Nestle New Zealand Limited’s (Nestle) Sustagen Formula brand of standard supplement (vanilla and chocolate flavour) will be fully funded for people who meet the Special Authority criteria.
• Nestle’s Alfamino brand of amnio acid formula will be funded for infants from birth to 1 year of age who meet Special Authority criteria.

What does this mean for people

This decision means that from 1 July 2021:

• Sustagen Formula (both vanilla and chocolate flavour) will be fully funded for all patients who meet the Standard Supplements Special Authority criteria. This will provide more funded powdered oral feed options for people who require a standard supplement.
  • The current additional subsidy by endorsement arrangement for Sustagen Formula will be removed.
  • Please note, although the full name of this product is ‘Sustagen Hospital Formula Active’, it will also be available for use in the community.

• Alfamino, a new amino acid formula, will be funded for infants who meet the amino acid formula Special Authority criteria. This will provide an additional fully funded amino acid formula for infants from birth to 1 year of age.

Any changes to the original proposal?

This decision was subject to a consultation letter dated 6 April 2021.

All consultation responses were positive, and we thank those who provided consultation feedback. There were no changes made to the proposal. Further details can be found below.

Who we think will be most interested

• People who require nutritional supplementation, their carers and whānau
• Community and hospital dietitians
• Paediatricians, gastroenterologists, general practitioners, pharmacists, nurse practitioners and other health professionals involved in the management of people who require nutritional supplementation
• Pharmaceutical suppliers and wholesalers

Detail about this decision

Sustagen Formula

Funded access to Sustagen Formula (vanilla and chocolate flavour) will be amended in Section D and in Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 July 2021 to the following price and subsidy (ex-manufacturer, excluding GST):

The Special Authority criteria and Hospital Restrictions that currently apply to Standard Supplements will continue to apply to Sustagen Formula (Special Authority criteria are listed in the Pharmaceutical Schedule(external link) and hospital restrictions criteria are listed in the Hospital Medicines List)(external link). 

The endorsement for access to Sustagen Formula will be removed. Patients receiving funded access via the endorsement will continue to be able to access treatment under Special Authority.

Alfamino

Alfamino will be listed in Section D and Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 July 2021 at the following price and subsidy (ex-manufacturer, excluding GST):

The Special Authority criteria and hospital restrictions that currently apply to amino acid formulas will apply to Alfamino (Special Authority criteria are listed in the Pharmaceutical Schedule(external link) and hospital restrictions are listed in the Hospital Medicines List)(external link).  

Our response to what you told us

We’re really grateful for the time people took to respond to this consultation. All consultation feedback was supportive, and we are pleased to be funding this treatment to provide more options for people who require standard supplements and amino acid formula.

One response raised concern that due to the price decreases there is significant potential for losses to be incurred in the supply chain and request for price support to be provided. This feedback has been passed on to the supplier.  PHARMAC staff understand that the supplier intends to provide a price support mechanism to ensure that no wholesaler is disadvantaged.

If you have any questions about this decision, 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.