Decision to continue funding Fortisip Compact Protein for Health New Zealand hospitals

We are pleased to advise that Fortisip Compact Protein (a high-protein oral feed 2.4 kcal/ml) will continue to be fully funded in New Zealand hospitals for all people who meet the Hospital Restriction for standard feeds.

Restriction checklist for Standard Feeds [PDF](external link)

The application for the funding of Fortisip Compact Protein in the community will continue to be considered through Pharmac’s assessment and funding process.

Why is this happening?

We temporarily listed Fortisip Compact Protein as an example brand in the Hospital Medicines List (HML) in 2022. This was in response to significant supply issues for the Nutricia supplements due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was not funded for community use.

Since then, the supply status of Nutricia products has improved and the other funded supplements are available again. On 19 November we advised that Fortisip Compact Protein would be delisted from the HML on 1 March 2025.

During the time that Fortisip Compact Protein has been funded in Health New Zealand hospitals, we have heard from dietitians about the benefit it has provided for their patients. We also heard that dietitians were concerned that not having access to Fortisip Compact Protein anymore would result in negative health outcomes for the people they care for.

Pharmac has considered this feedback and has made the decision to continue to fund Fortisip Compact Protein in Health New Zealand hospitals for people who are eligible to receive standard supplements.

We are considering funding Fortisip Compact Protein in the community

Pharmac is funding Fortisip Compact Protein in Health New Zealand hospitals only.

We are aware that some people in the community may benefit from Fortisip Compact Protein.

Pharmac has an open funding application for Fortisip Compact Protein, which is being considered through our standard assessment and decision-making processes.

Fortisip Compact Protein in the Application Tracker(external link)

Who to contact

If you have questions about this decision, email enquiry@pharmac.govt.nz