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Pharmac Updates
Plain-English summaries of every Pharmac funding decision β updated as they happen
β Reviewed by a Registered Pharmacist NZ | Last updated: May 2026 | This information is for educational purposes only and does not replace advice from your doctor or pharmacist.
What is Pharmac?
Pharmac (Te PΔtaka Whaioranga β the Pharmaceutical Management Agency) is the New Zealand Government agency that decides which medicines are subsidised for New Zealanders. If Pharmac funds a medicine, you typically pay only the standard prescription charge (currently $5 per item, or free if you have a Community Services Card or are under 14 years old).
Pharmac’s decisions directly affect which medicines New Zealanders can afford. When a new medicine gets funded, it can be life-changing for patients who previously couldn’t access it. When funding is declined or changed, it affects treatment options for thousands of people.
This page tracks every Pharmac funding decision in plain English β no jargon, no press release waffle. Just the facts about what changed and what it means for patients.
π This page is updated every time Pharmac makes a new funding decision. Bookmark it and check back regularly β or subscribe to the KiwiMeds Bulletin to get Pharmac updates delivered straight to your inbox.
Latest Pharmac Decisions
π©Έ New Blood Cancer Treatments Funded β April 2026
Date announced: 9 April 2026 | Effective: 1 May 2026
Medicines funded:
- Venetoclax (Venclexta) + Ibrutinib (Imbruvica) β funded as a first-line combination treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)
- Venetoclax (Venclexta) + Obinutuzumab (Gazyvaro) β funded as a first-line combination treatment for CLL
- Ibrutinib (Imbruvica) alone β widened access as second-line treatment for CLL
What it means for patients: New Zealanders with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) now have access to modern treatment options previously only available privately. Both venetoclax and ibrutinib are oral tablets/capsules taken at home β fewer hospital visits vs traditional IV chemo. Around 110 people per year benefit from the new combinations, and around 30 from widened ibrutinib access.
π¬ Letermovir (Prevymis) Funded After Stem Cell Transplant β April 2026
Date announced: 8 April 2026 | Effective: 1 May 2026
Medicine funded: Letermovir (Prevymis) β an antiviral that prevents cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in people with severely weakened immune systems following an allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT).
What happened: Pharmac funded letermovir to prevent CMV reactivation post-stem cell transplant. CMV is normally harmless but can be life-threatening in immunosuppressed transplant patients. Around 90 people per year are expected to benefit.
What it means for patients: Letermovir has a better safety profile than older CMV antivirals β it does not suppress bone marrow β allowing patients to recover faster with fewer complications.
π¦ Wider Access to Melanoma Medicines β April 2026
Date announced: 7 April 2026 | Effective: 1 May 2026
Medicines: Nivolumab (Opdivo) + Ipilimumab (Yervoy) β a dual immunotherapy combination for melanoma treatment before surgery.
What happened: Pharmac widened access so that adults with resectable stage 3Bβ4 melanoma (melanoma that has spread but can be surgically removed) can now receive nivolumab + ipilimumab before surgery (neoadjuvant immunotherapy). Around 2 in 3 patients achieve a major response β significant tumour shrinkage β meaning many may not need further treatment after surgery. Around 155 people per year are expected to benefit.
What it means for patients: New Zealand has one of the world’s highest melanoma rates. This dual immunotherapy approach, given before surgery, can significantly improve outcomes. It also saves around 1,000 hospital infusion hours per year, as patients who respond well may need less follow-up treatment. Speak with your oncologist about whether you qualify.
βοΈ Wegovy and Mounjaro (Weight Loss Injections) β NOT Funded β February 2026
Date announced: 24 February 2026
What happened: Pharmac confirmed it will not fund Wegovy (semaglutide for weight loss) or Mounjaro (tirzepatide) for weight management at this time.
What it means for patients: Pharmac will not fund Wegovy (semaglutide) or Mounjaro (tirzepatide) for weight management at this time. Wegovy does have Medsafe consent and is available in NZ by private prescription β speak with your GP or a weight management clinic for current pricing. Ozempic (semaglutide for diabetes) has Medsafe consent but is currently listed as βNot availableβ on the NZ market. For type 2 diabetes, funded GLP-1 alternatives include liraglutide (Victoza) and dulaglutide (Trulicity).
Why wasn’t it funded? Pharmac weighs the clinical benefit, cost-effectiveness, and available budget. Weight loss medicines are high-cost and would require a large ongoing budget commitment. Pharmac’s decision does not mean the medicines are ineffective β they have strong evidence β but rather that the funding criteria were not met at this time.
π Ferric Derisomaltose (Monofer) Funded β February 2026
Date announced: 17 February 2026 | Effective: 1 March 2026
Medicine funded: Ferric derisomaltose (Monofer) β an intravenous (IV) iron preparation for people who have experienced serious reactions to other funded iron infusions.
What happened: Pharmac funded Monofer in hospitals for people who have experienced a serious adverse reaction (including hypophosphataemia β dangerously low phosphate levels) after other funded IV iron products. It replaces Venofer (iron as sucrose), which was discontinued. Around 100 people per year are expected to benefit.
What it means for patients: Iron deficiency anaemia is very common in NZ. When oral iron fails, IV iron is needed. Monofer can often be given as a single full dose (fewer visits than some alternatives) and has a lower risk of causing hypophosphataemia than the standard funded IV iron (Ferinject). This is an important safety option for the small group who react to standard IV iron.
π« Cystic Fibrosis CFTR Modulators Funded for Children β March 2026
Date announced: 11 March 2026
Medicines funded:
- Alyftrek (vanzacaftor/tezacaftor/deutivacaftor) β for children aged 6+ with at least one F508del mutation
- Trikafta (elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor) β for children aged 2+ with at least one F508del mutation
- Kalydeco (ivacaftor) β for children aged 1+ with specific other mutations
What happened: Pharmac announced funding for life-changing CFTR modulator therapies for children with cystic fibrosis (CF). These medicines treat the underlying cause of CF rather than just managing symptoms β a revolution in CF treatment. Previously only available privately at enormous cost (tens of thousands of dollars per year), this funding means NZ children with CF can now access these transformative treatments.
What it means for patients: CFTR modulators have dramatically improved lung function, reduced hospitalisations, and improved quality of life for CF patients in other countries. This funding decision is a major milestone for NZ families living with cystic fibrosis.
How to Stay Updated on Pharmac Decisions
There are several ways to keep up with Pharmac funding changes:
- Subscribe to the KiwiMeds Bulletin β we translate every Pharmac announcement into plain English and deliver it to your inbox. Sign up free here.
- Pharmac’s own website β visit pharmac.govt.nz/news for official announcements (note: these are written for health professionals and can be technical).
- Ask your pharmacist β your community pharmacist is usually the first to know when funded medicines change, as they receive notifications directly from Pharmac.
β οΈ Disclaimer: This page summarises publicly available Pharmac announcements in plain English. Always talk to your pharmacist or doctor for personalised advice about your medicines and whether you qualify for any funded treatments. Pharmac funding criteria can be complex β your health professional can check the full eligibility criteria for you.
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