September 2016 tender notification

PHARMAC has resolved to award tenders for Sole Subsidised Supply Status and Hospital Supply Status for some products included in the 2014/15 Invitation to Tender, dated 6 November 2014, and the 2015/16 Invitation to Tender, dated 6 November 2015.

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 4pm on the 12th of the month prior to the date of subsidy change. More information 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 and that a CTPP code has been obtained from the New Zealand Universal List of Medicines (http://www.nzulm.org.nz/sponsors(external link)). Pharmacodes and CTPP codes must be provided to PHARMAC by the 5th of the month prior to the date of listing, or 10 business days following the market notification date (whichever is earliest). PHARMAC cannot list a product (and pharmacies cannot claim) without the correct Pharmacode.

2015/16 Tender – Sole Subsidised Supply Status or Hospital Supply Status applies until 30 June 2019

Community pharmaceutical tenders – Section B of the Pharmaceutical Schedule

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

The decisions were as follows:

Chemical name Presentation;
Pack size and type
Current subsidy (and price) New subsidy (and price) Sole supply brand (Supplier) Date of subsidy change Sole Subsidised Supply date
Azathioprine Inj 50 mg vial; 1 inj $126.00 $60.00 Imuran (Aspen) 1 November 2016 1 February 2017

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 subsidy (and price) New subsidy (and price) Sole supply brand (Supplier) Date of listing/subsidy change for tender winning brand Date of reference pricing of other listed brands Sole Subsidised Supply date (and delisting of other listed brands) Brand (Supplier) affected by reference pricing and delisting
Amiodarone hydrochloride* Inj 50 mg per ml, 3 ml ampoule; 5 inj (glass) $22.80 per 6 inj $9.98 per 5 inj Lodi (Rex Medical) 1 April 2017 1 June 2017 1 September 2017 Cordarone-X (Sanofi)
Azathioprine Tab 25 mg; 100 tab (blister pack) $8.28 per 60 tab $9.66 per 100 tab Imuran (Aspen) 1 May 2017 1 July 2017 1 October 2017 Azamun (Douglas)
Azathioprine Tab 50 mg; 100 tab (blister pack) $13.22 $10.58 Imuran (Aspen) 1 May 2017 1 July 2017 1 October 2017 Azamun (Douglas)
Sumatriptan Tab 50 mg; 100 tab (blister pack) $29.80 $24.44 Apo-Sumatriptan (Apotex) 1 April 2017 1 June 2017 1 September 2017 Arrow-Sumatriptan (Actavis)
Sumatriptan Tab 100 mg; 100 tab (blister pack) $54.80 $46.23 Apo-Sumatriptan (Apotex) 1 April 2017 1 June 2017 1 September 2017 Arrow-Sumatriptan (Actavis)
* The PSO quantity for amiodarone hydrochloride inj 50 mg per ml, 3 ml ampoule will reduce from a maximum of 6 to 5 injections from 1 June 2017.

Hospital pharmaceutical tenders – Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule

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

The decisions were as follows:

Chemical Name Presentation;
Pack size and type
Current price New price Hospital SupplyBrand (Supplier) DVLimit Listing date Hospital Supply Status date
Azathioprine Inj 50 mg vial; 1 inj $126.00 $60.00 Imuran (Aspen) 1% 1 November 2016 1 January 2017

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 price New price Hospital SupplyBrand (Supplier) DVLimit Listing date Hospital Supply Status date Brand (Supplier) affected by delisting
Amiodarone hydrochloride Inj 50 mg per ml, 3 ml ampoule; 5 inj (glass) $22.80 per 6 inj $9.98 per 5 inj Lodi (Rex Medical) 1% 1 April 2017 1 June 2017 Cordarone-X (Sanofi)
Azathioprine Tab 25 mg; 100 tab (blister pack) $8.28 per 60 tab $9.66 per 100 tab Imuran (Aspen) 1% 1 May 2017 1 July 2017 Azamun (Douglas)
Azathioprine Tab 50 mg; 100 tab (blister pack) $13.22 $10.58 Imuran (Aspen) 1% 1 May 2017 1 July 2017 Azamun (Douglas)
Sumatriptan Tab 50 mg; 100 tab (blister pack) $29.80 $24.44 Apo-Sumatriptan (Apotex) 1% 1 April 2017 1 June 2017 Arrow-Sumatriptan (Actavis)
Sumatriptan Tab 100 mg; 100 tab (blister pack) $54.80 $46.23 Apo-Sumatriptan (Apotex) 1% 1 April 2017 1 June 2017 Arrow-Sumatriptan (Actavis)

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 the 2014/15 Invitation to Tender, dated 6 November 2014, and the 2015/16 Invitation to Tender, dated 6 November 2015:

2014/15 Invitation to Tender

Chemical Name

Line Item

Caspofungin

Inj 50 mg

Caspofungin

Inj 70 mg

Lidocaine [lignocaine] hydrochloride

Inj 1 %, 5 ml

Lidocaine [lignocaine] hydrochloride

Inj 1 %, 20 ml

Lidocaine [lignocaine] hydrochloride

Inj 2 %, 5 ml

Lidocaine [lignocaine] hydrochloride

Inj 2 %, 20 ml

Propranolol

Cap long-acting 160 mg

 2015/16 Invitation to Tender

Chemical Name

Line Item

Hexamine hippurate

Tab 1 g

Levocabastine

Eye drops 0.5 mg per ml

Nitrofurantoin

Tab modified-release 100 mg

Propranolol

Tab 10 mg

Propranolol

Tab 40 mg

Sodium chloride

Soln 0.9% for irrigation, 30 ml

For products included in the 2014/15 and 2015/16 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.