Source: PHARMAC
Pharmac is removing unnecessary renewal requirements for selected Special Authority medicines and products, making it easier for people with long-term conditions to access the treatments they need.
A Special Authority is a type of funding restriction used by Pharmac to ensure that certain medicines are targeted to people who would benefit most from them. It sets out specific clinical criteria that must be met before a medicine can be funded.
From 1 December 2025, patients will no longer need to renew Special Authority approvals for:
- Insulin pump consumables and continuous glucose monitors for type 1 diabetes
- LAMA/LABA inhalers for respiratory conditions
- Epoetin alfa for chronic renal failure
- Budesonide capsules for Crohn’s disease and microscopic colitis
- Febuxostat for gout
These changes follow consultation on changes to support 12-month prescriptions. Feedback from health professionals and stakeholders highlighted that many renewal requirements were administrative only and created unnecessary barriers for people.
“These changes will remove around 32,000 renewal applications annually, or about 20% of all Special Authority renewals,” says Pharmac’s Director Strategy, Policy and Performance Michael Johnson. “It will save prescribers and pharmacists hours of administration each week, which frees them up to spend more time with patients.”
“This is about putting people first. Fewer repeat appointments and simpler access to medicines means better continuity of care and less stress for people managing long-term conditions.”
Pharmac will work with Health New Zealand to extend expiry dates for people with existing approvals, ensuring a smooth transition.
