Decision to change funded male latex condoms
We’re pleased to announce changes to funded male latex condoms that will result in a wider range of funded male latex condoms becoming available.
What we’re doing
We’re pleased to announce changes to funded male latex condoms that will result in a wider range of funded male latex condoms becoming available, including flavoured condoms in a range of sizes and thin and coloured condoms becoming funded for the first time.
These changes will be implemented over a five-month transition period starting 1 October 2019. All individuals or organisations accessing funded 49 mm, 53 mm or 56 mm nominal width male latex condoms will need to change brands or products before 1 March 2020.
From 1 March 2020 all currently listed 49 mm, 53 mm or 56 mm nominal width male latex condoms will be delisted.
In addition, the maximum number of funded 53mm and 56mm nominal width male latex condoms allowed to be prescribed and available via a Practitioner’s Supply Order (PSO) will be reduced from 144 to 60 condoms. This is intended to reduce funded condom wastage and reduce the physical bulk of product that pharmacies handle, and people receive. These changes will be implemented from 1 October 2019.
Any changes to the original proposal?
There are no changes to the original proposal. We want to thank everyone who provided all their thoughtful feedback to this consultation, which has fed into this decision.
This decision was subject to a consultation letter dated 17 June 2019.
Who we think will be most interested
- People who access funded condoms.
- The New Zealand AIDS Foundation, Family Planning Clinics, New Zealand Prostitutes Collective Trust, OneLink and other organisations that access and distribute funded condoms.
- Clinicians and community pharmacists who prescribe and dispense funded condoms.
- Suppliers and wholesalers of condoms.
Detail about this decision
The following changes will occur in Section B of the Pharmaceutical Schedule:
49 mm nominal width
- The Moments brand of 0.07 mm thickness condoms will be funded from 1 October 2019 and will become the sole subsidised brand from 1 March 2020.
53 mm nominal width
- The Moments brand of 0.05 mm and 0.07 mm thickness condoms will be funded from 1 October 2019 and will become the sole subsidised brand from 1 March 2020.
- Thin (0.05 mm thickness) condoms will be funded for the first time.
- The 0.07 mm thickness condoms will be available unflavoured and flavoured; the flavoured condoms will also be coloured.
56 mm nominal width
- The Moments brand of 0.06 mm and 0.08 mm thickness condoms will be funded from 1 October 2019 and will become the sole subsidised brand of these thicknesses from 1 March 2020.
- 0.08 mm thickness condoms (coloured red) will be funded for the first time.
- The Gold Knight brand of thin 0.05 mm (unflavoured) and 0.07 mm (flavoured) condoms will be funded from 1 October 2019 and will become the sole subsidised brand of these thicknesses from 1 March 2020.
>58 mm nominal width
- The Shield XL brand of 60mm nominal width male latex condoms will continue to be funded while arrangements for the supply of >58mm nominal width condoms are finalised.
Transition
- From 1 October 2019, a five-month transition period will begin during which all individuals or organisations accessing funded 49 mm, 53 mm or 56 mm nominal width male latex condoms will need to change brands.
- From 1 October 2019, until 29 February 2020 all currently listed brands of male latex condoms and the Moments and Gold Knight brand 49 mm, 53 mm and 56 mm nominal width male latex condoms detailed in the table below will be funded.
- On 1 March 2020, the five-month transition period will end, and only the Moment’s and Gold Knight brands of 49 mm, 53 mm and 56 mm nominal width male latex condoms in the table below will be funded (meaning that they will have sole subsidised supply status):
|
Nominal width |
Brand |
Thickness |
Flavour |
Colour |
Pack type |
Pack Size |
Price and subsidy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
49 mm |
Moments |
0.07 mm |
None |
None |
Bulk pack |
144 units |
$11.42 |
|
53 mm |
Moments |
0.05 mm |
None |
None |
Bulk pack |
144 units |
$11.42 |
|
Moments |
0.05 mm |
None |
None |
Dispensing pack |
10 units |
$0.95 |
|
|
Moments |
0.07 mm |
None |
None |
Bulk pack |
144 units |
$11.64 |
|
|
Moments |
0.07 mm |
None |
None |
Dispensing pack |
10 units |
$0.95 |
|
|
Moments |
0.07 mm |
Chocolate |
Brown |
Bulk pack |
144 units |
$11.64 |
|
|
Moments |
0.07 mm |
Chocolate |
Brown |
Dispensing pack |
10 units |
$0.95 |
|
|
Moments |
0.07 mm |
Strawberry |
Red |
Bulk pack |
144 units |
$11.64 |
|
|
Moments |
0.07 mm |
Strawberry |
Red |
Dispensing pack |
10 units |
$0.95 |
|
|
56 mm |
Moments |
0.06 mm |
None |
None |
Bulk pack |
144 units |
$11.64 |
|
Moments |
0.06 mm |
None |
None |
Dispensing pack |
10 units |
$0.97 |
|
|
Moments |
0.08 mm |
None |
None |
Bulk pack |
144 units |
$11.64 |
|
|
Moments |
0.08 mm |
None |
None |
Dispensing pack |
10 units |
$0.97 |
|
|
Moments |
0.08 mm |
None |
Red |
Bulk pack |
144 units |
$11.64 |
|
|
Moments |
0.08 mm |
None |
Red |
Dispensing pack |
10 units |
$0.97 |
|
|
Gold Knight |
0.05 mm |
None |
None |
Bulk pack |
144 units |
$15.57 |
|
|
Gold Knight |
0.05 mm |
None |
None |
Dispensing pack |
12 units |
$1.30 |
|
|
Gold Knight |
0.07 mm |
Strawberry |
None |
Bulk pack |
144units |
$15.57 |
|
|
Gold Knight |
0.07 mm |
Strawberry |
None |
Dispensing pack |
12 units |
$1.30 |
|
|
Gold Knight |
0.07 mm |
Chocolate |
None |
Bulk pack |
144 units |
$15.57 |
|
|
Gold Knight |
0.07 mm |
Chocolate |
None |
Dispensing pack |
12 units |
$1.30 |
- From 1 October 2019, the maximum number of funded condoms allowed to be prescribed and available via a Practitioner’s Supply Order (PSO) for all brands of 53mm and 56mm nominal width male latex condoms will be reduced from 144 to 60 condoms to reduce condom wastage.
- From 1 March 2020 the following brands of male latex condoms will be delisted from Section B of the Pharmaceutical Schedule:
|
Nominal Width |
Brands |
|---|---|
|
49mm |
Shield 49 |
|
53mm |
Gold Knight, Shield Blue |
|
53mm Chocolate & Strawberry |
Gold Knight |
|
56mm |
Durex Extra Safe, Durex Confidence |
- The sole subsidised supply arrangements will be in place from 1 March 2020 until 30 September 2022.
- Organisations accessing bulk funded condoms via direct distribution will continue to be able to access 144 unit packs and dispensing packs for all nominal widths.
- Until future arrangements for the supply of a >58mm male latex condom are established, the Shield XL brand of 60 mm nominal width male latex condoms will continue to be funded.
Male and female non-latex condoms and water-based lubricant
The scope of the RFP also included male and female non-latex condoms, as well as water-based lubricant sachets. We are not progressing funding of these products as a result of this RFP. PHARMAC acknowledges the health need that could be addressed by water-based lubricant sachets and male and female non-latex condoms. Potential future funding of these products remains on our work programme.
Links to PHARMAC’s Application Tracker for these products are provided below:
Our response to what you told us
We’re really grateful for the time people took to respond to this consultation. A summary of the main themes raised in feedback and our response is provided below.
|
Theme |
PHARMAC response |
|---|---|
|
Support increasing range of funded male latex condoms |
|
|
Support for increasing the funded range of male latex condoms available. |
Noted. |
|
Access to condom dispensing packs |
|
|
Concern that organisations such as the New Zealand AIDS Foundation and Family Planning New Zealand which access and distribute funded condoms would only be able to access and distribute bulk packs (144 units) of condoms. |
It is not PHARMAC’s intention to restrict the type of packs that bulk distribution organisations can access. These organisations will be able to continue to access and distribute both bulk (144 unit packs) and smaller dispensing packs (10 or 12 units). |
|
Funding of non-latex condoms and water-based lubricant |
|
|
Respondents expressed disappointment that PHARMAC was not progressing funding of male and female non-latex condoms and water-based lubricant sachets at this time |
PHARMAC acknowledge the health need that could be addressed by water-based lubricant sachets and male and female non-latex condoms. Potential future funding of these products will remain on our work programme. |
|
Concerns regarding increasing range of funded male latex condoms |
|
|
Respondents from community pharmacy expressed concern that increasing the range of funded male latex condoms would require additional shelf space and could lead to community pharmacies not holding stock of condoms. |
PHARMAC considers these changes will increase the range of funded male latex condoms, including presentations that will encourage uptake of male latex condoms. Community pharmacies will continue to be able to choose which funded products they hold stock of. In addition, PHARMAC considers that reducing the quantity of male latex condoms that can be dispensed to individuals at one time from 144 condoms to 60 condoms will reduce space required for condoms on pharmacy shelves. |
|
Dispensing quantities of male latex condoms |
|
|
The majority of respondents were supportive of PHARMAC’s proposal to restrict the quantity of condoms to be prescribed and dispensed to reduce condom wastage. One respondent noted a concern that this could discourage access and use. |
Feedback received by PHARMAC has been that current dispensing volumes (144 condoms) is resulting in condom wastage due to condoms expiring before they are used. PHARMAC considers that restricting the quantity of condoms able to be prescribed and dispensed at one time to 60 will reduce wastage while still dispensing condoms in a sufficient quantity to meet the needs of individuals accessing funded condoms. |
|
Proposed brands of male latex condoms |
|
|
Some respondents raised concerns that Coral Healthcare is an unknown supplier and its ‘Moments’ brand is unknown in New Zealand and may not be acceptable to users of funded male latex condoms. |
Coral Healthcare’s Moments brand of male latex condoms are supplied in Australia. In addition, PHARMAC note that Coral Healthcare’s Moments brand of male latex condoms are manufactured by Karex, the world’s largest condom manufacturer.The suitability of the Moments brand of male latex condoms and Coral Healthcare’s ability to supply them was assessed during the evaluation process. |
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 66 00 50