Pharmac seeks feedback on potential brand changes from annual medicines tender

Pharmac has opened consultation on potential brand changes as part of its 2024/25 annual tender process – one of the ways Pharmac manages how much New Zealand spends on medicines.

“Our annual tender process helps us reduce the cost of medicines we already fund and can free up between $30 million and $50 million each year,” says Pharmac’s Director Pharmaceuticals, Geraldine MacGibbon.

“When a medicine is no longer under patent, suppliers can offer generic versions, which are often more affordable. Each year, we invite suppliers to bid to be the main supplier of these medicines. If a bid is successful, the brand of the medicine may change.”

Pharmac is now consulting on the potential impact of brand changes from this year’s tender.

“We’re partway through the 2024/25 tender process,” says MacGibbon. “We received bids from suppliers in December, and in

March our clinical advisors assessed the different brands. Of the 328-line items that were tendered, we think around 40% of them could result in a brand change.”

Pharmac is inviting feedback from people who take these medicines, and those who support them including prescribers, dispensers, and caregivers.

“We want to understand what the impact of a brand change might be and what support people would need if their brand of medicine changes,” says MacGibbon. “It’s important to us that our decisions are informed by people’s experiences.”

Pharmac acknowledges that in previous years people weren’t consulted enough about tender brand changes.

“We’re doing this extra consultation because we want to get it right,” says MacGibbon. “Your input will help us determine what decisions we make, and how best to roll out any changes to the medicines in this list.”

The consultation will take place over two rounds in the coming months. The list of medicines under consideration for a brand change is available on Pharmac’s website. This includes medicines that regularly change brands, as well as those that don’t.

“We encourage everyone to have their say,” says MacGibbon. “Your feedback helps shape the decisions we make.”