Published: 5 May 2025

Medicines

Early notification of potential medicine supply issues

Joint policy statement from Pharmac and Medsafe

Kia ora koutou

Pharmac noticed an increase in late notifications of supply issues in late 2024, alongside requests for Pharmac to support priority applications to Medsafe. Medsafe and Pharmac understand that supply challenges can arise and we want to work together to manage them effectively.

Early Notification to Pharmac

To help ensure a reliable supply of medicine for patients, we encourage sponsors to reach out to your Pharmac Contract Manager as soon as you foresee any supply challenges or potential issue arises. Early communication makes it easier for Pharmac to explore options and find solutions with companies.

Priority Application Requests to Medsafe

Pharmac and Medsafe meet regularly to discuss potential and actual supply issues. While Medsafe does consider priority applications with Pharmac’s support, the number of applications that can be prioirtised at any given time is limited. These requests can also affect the processing time of other applications already in the queue.

If sponsors anticipate a supply issue that may require regulatory action, please contact Medsafe as early as possible and provide the necessary details. Ensuring consistent information is shared with both Medsafe and Pharmac helps streamline the process.

Minimising Impact on patients

We appreciate that some supply disruptions are unavoidable. By working together - through early notification and complete applications – Pharmac and Medsafe can help navigate challenges and minimise the impact on patients.