August 2020 tender notification

Medicines Tender Closed

PHARMAC has resolved to award tenders for Sole Subsidised Supply Status and Hospital Supply Status for some products included in the 2018/19 Invitation to Tender, dated 1 November 2018 and the 2019/20 Invitation to Tender, dated 1 November 2019.

On this page

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:

  • For new listings, by 4pm on 11 September 2020 or the 5th of the month prior to listing, whichever is earlier
  • For price changes, by 4pm on the 12th of the month prior to the date of subsidy change

PHARMAC cannot list a product (and pharmacies cannot claim) without this information. 

More information about this process 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(external link)  and that a CTPP code has been obtained from the New Zealand Universal List of Medicines(external link). Pharmacodes and CTPP codes must be provided to PHARMAC by the 5th of the month prior to the date of listing, or the new listing date above (whichever is earliest). PHARMAC cannot list a product (and pharmacies cannot claim) without the correct Pharmacode.

2018/19 Tender – Sole Subsidised Supply Status or Hospital Supply Status applies until 30 June 2022

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
pack price

New
pack price

Sole supply brand (Supplier)

Date of listing

Sole Subsidised Supply date

Brand (Supplier) affected by delisting

Cyclizine lactate

Inj 50 mg per ml, 1 ml;
10 ampoule pack

$14.95
(5 ampoule pack)

$21.53

Hameln
(Max Health)

1 December 2020

1 May 2021

Nausicalm
(AFT)

Hospital pharmaceutical 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
pack price

New
pack price

Sole supply brand (Supplier)

DV Limit

Date of listing

Sole Subsidised Supply date

Brand (Supplier) affected by delisting

Cyclizine lactate

Inj 50 mg per ml, 1 ml;
10 ampoule pack

$14.95
(5 ampoule pack)

$21.53

Hameln
(Max Health)

1%

1 December 2020

1 May 2021

Nausicalm
(AFT)

2019/20 Tender – Sole Subsidised Supply Status or Hospital Supply Status applies until 30 June 2023

Community pharmaceutical tenders – Section B of the Pharmaceutical Schedule

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

The decisions were as follows:

Chemical name

Presentation;
Pack size and type

New
pack price

Sole supply brand
(Supplier)

Date of subsidy change

Sole Subsidised Supply date

Pimecrolimus1

Crm 1%;
15 g OP

$28.50

Elidel
(Mylan)

1 December 2020

1 March 2021

1 Special Authority criteria will apply as consulted on 11 August 2020.

1 The following Special Authority criteria will apply:

Special Authority for Subsidy

Initial application only from a dermatologist, paediatrician or ophthalmologist, or any relevant practitioner on the recommendation of a dermatologist, paediatrician or ophthalmologist. Approvals valid without further renewal unless notified for applications meeting the following criteria:

Both:

  1. Patient has atopic dermatitis on the eyelid; and
  2. Patient has at least one of the following contraindications to topical corticosteroids: periorificial dermatitis, rosacea, documented epidermal atrophy, documented allergy to topical corticosteroids, cataracts, glaucoma, or raised intraocular pressure.

The following restriction will apply:

Maximum of 15 g per prescription

The following note will apply:

Note: a maximum of 15 g per prescription and no more than one prescription per 12 weeks. 

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
pack price

New
pack price

Sole supply brand (Supplier)

Date of listing

Sole Subsidised Supply date

Brand (Supplier) affected by delisting

Escitalopram

Tab 10 mg;
28 tablet blister pack

$1.11

$1.07

Escitalopram (Ethics)
(Multichem)

1 May 2021

1 October 2021

Escitalopram – Apotex
(Apotex)

Escitalopram

Tab 20 mg;
28 tablet blister pack

$1.90

$1.92

Escitalopram (Ethics)
(Multichem)

1 May 2021

1 October 2021

Escitalopram – Apotex
(Apotex)

Hospital pharmaceutical tenders – Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule

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

Chemical name

Presentation;
Pack size and type

New
pack price

Sole supply brand
(Supplier)

Date of subsidy change

Sole Subsidised Supply date

Pimecrolimus2

Crm 1%; 15 g

$28.50

Elidel
(Mylan)

1 December 2020

1 March 2021

2 Hospital restriction criteria will apply as consulted on 11 August 2020.

2 The following hospital restrictions will apply:

Restricted

Initiation

Dermatologist, paediatrician or ophthalmologist

Both:

  1. Patient has atopic dermatitis on the eyelid; and
  2. Patient has at least one of the following contraindications to topical corticosteroids: periorificial dermatitis, rosacea, documented epidermal atrophy, documented allergy to topical corticosteroids, cataracts, glaucoma, or raised intraocular pressure.

6. 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 pack price

New pack price

Hospital supply brand (Supplier)

DV Limit

Listing date

Hospital Supply Status date

Brand (Supplier) affected by delisting

Escitalopram

Tab 10 mg
28 tablet blister pack

$1.11

$1.07

Escitalopram (Ethics)
(Multichem)

1%

1 May 2021

1 October 2021

Escitalopram – Apotex
(Apotex)

Escitalopram

Tab 20 mg
28 tablet blister pack

$1.90

$1.92

Escitalopram (Ethics)
(Multichem)

1%

1 May 2021

1 October 2021

Escitalopram – Apotex
(Apotex)

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:

  1. the 2018/19 Invitation to Tender, dated 1 November 2018, and
  2. the 2019/20 Invitation to Tender, dated 1 November 2019.

2018/19 Invitation to Tender

Chemical name

Line item

Loperamide hydrochloride [split market]

Tab 2 mg

2019/20 Invitation to Tender

Chemical name

Line item

Brimonidine Tartrate with Timolol Maleate

Eye drops 0.2% with timolol maleate 0.5%

Colistin Sulphomethate

Inj 150 mg

Disulfiram

Tab 200 mg

Lidocaine [lignocaine] hydrochloride with adrenaline and tetracaine hydrochloride

Soln 4% with adrenaline 0.1 % and tetracaine hydrochloride 0.5%, 5 ml syringe

Neostigmine metisulfate

Inj 2.5 mg per ml, 1 ml

Noradrenaline

Inj 0.06 mg per ml, 50 ml syringe

Noradrenaline

Inj 0.1 mg per ml, 100 ml bag

Noradrenaline

Inj 0.12 mg per ml, 100 ml bag 

Noradrenaline

Inj 0.16 mg per ml, 50 ml syringe

Octreotide (somatostatin analogue)

Inj 50 mcg per ml, 1 ml

Octreotide (somatostatin analogue)

Inj 100 mcg per ml, 1 ml

Octreotide (somatostatin analogue)

Inj 500 mcg per ml, 1 ml

Silver Sulphadiazine

Crm 1% (pack size of 100 g or less)

Thiotepa

Inj 15 mg

Thiotepa

Inj 100 mg

Tramadol hydrochloride

Oral soln 10 mg per ml

Travoprost

Eye drops 0.004%

For products included in the 2018/19 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.