Decision not to fund an alternative carbomer gel and to remove renewal criteria for preservative free ocular lubricants
What we’re doing
In September 2024, Pharmac consulted on a proposal to fund an alternative carbomer gel eye drop (brand name Viscotears) for people with dry eyes. This proposal was in response to the current product, Poly-Gel, being discontinued by its supplier.
Medicine notice: Poly-Gel discontinuation
We have since been made aware that the supplier of Viscotears does not have enough stock to supply the funded New Zealand market. Because of this, we have made the decision not to list the Viscotears brand on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.
We understand that this may be disappointing for people. We are exploring other long-term options for people who are currently using Poly-Gel.
As part of the September consultation, we also asked people what they thought about removing the renewal criteria from 1 March 2025 for all funded preservative free ocular lubricants. We have progressed this proposal and the renewal criteria will be removed from 1 February 2025.
We didn’t receive any consultation feedback on this proposal.
Who we think will be most interested
- People with severe dry eye, their whānau, friends and caregivers.
- Healthcare professionals.
- Health New Zealand hospitals and other organisations who deliver services and support for people, and their whānau who are affected by severe dry eye.
- Pharmacies and wholesalers.
- Pharmaceutical suppliers.
Viscotears will not be listed on the Pharmaceutical Schedule
After we released the consultation, the supplier told us it is no longer able to secure enough stock of Viscotears to meet expected demand for the funded market in New Zealand. This is due to manufacturing issues. We have made the decision not to list the Viscotears brand on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.
Other funded treatments
Poly-Gel is being discontinued by the supplier and stock is expected to run out in December 2024. People currently using Poly-Gel should talk to their health care professional about other funded treatments they could use.
Information for prescribers:
The following preservative free ocular lubricants will continue to be funded in the community, subject to Special Authority criteria:
- Polyethylene glycol 400 and propylene glycol eye drops (branded as Systane Unit Dose)
- Sodium hyaluronate [Hyaluronic acid] eye drops (branded as Hylo-Fresh)
Anyone who is eligible for funded Poly-Gel would also meet the eligibility criteria for these treatments.
Schedule listings for other funded eye preparations(external link)
We acknowledge that the funded range of ocular lubricants will not include a thick / gel-forming product once stock of Poly-Gel has run out. This may result in people needing to use ointments or lubricating eye drops more frequently. We recommend prescribers talk to people using Poly-Gel about which treatments may be best for them.
We will continue to investigate other products for people who need a thick/gel-forming preservative free eye drop. At this stage we are unable to guarantee that a funded product will become available. If we can secure an alternative product, it will not be available until after the Poly-Gel stock has run out.
In Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule, a range of ocular lubricants are listed. Carbomer ophthalmic gel 0.2% and 0.3% will continue to be listed as ‘Any Brand’.
Changes to Special Authority renewals
From 1 February 2025, the renewal criteria for all funded preservative free ocular lubricants will be removed. This means that once a person has been given a Special Authority approval for a preservative free ocular lubricant, they will not need to have their approval renewed (unless notified).
We will work with Health New Zealand to extend Special Authority approvals for those who have an active approval (whether initial or renewal). Approvals will be valid without further renewal unless notified by Pharmac. We will try to ensure existing approval numbers will be extended and patients will not be issued a new approval number.
We didn’t receive any consultation feedback on this proposal. 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.