Source: PHARMAC
Pharmac will fund another brand of methylphenidate to help improve supply and provide more treatment options for people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
The Rubifen LA (long-acting) brand of methylphenidate will be funded for people with ADHD. It is a generic version of the already funded Ritalin LA brand and will be available in the same strengths (10 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg and 40 mg), along with an additional 60 mg strength.
“We know how hard it’s been for people and their families not being able to access the ADHD medicines they rely on,” says Pharmac’s Director Pharmaceuticals Geraldine MacGibbon.
“This decision builds on the steps we’ve already taken to improve supply, including funding lisdexamfetamine in late 2024 and Methylphenidate Sandoz XR in late 2025.”
Global supply issues and rising demand have affected all brands and strengths of methylphenidate in New Zealand since 2023. These disruptions are due to a range of factors, including increasing global demand and manufacturing constraints, and are expected to continue throughout 2026.
“In November last year when we consulted on this proposal we planned for Rubifen LA to be funded from 1 July 2026,” says MacGibbon. “The supplier has told us that it needs more time to make the medicine available in New Zealand, so the funding date has been moved to 1 October 2026.”
Adding another brand alongside those already funded will help increase overall supply and reduce the risk of shortages. There are now 8 brands of methylphenidate funded for New Zealanders.
“It means people, and their healthcare providers, have more options to choose from which can help reduce disruptions to treatment,” says MacGibbon.
Pharmac received feedback from people with ADHD, their families, clinicians and pharmacists during consultation.
“People told us how stressful and disruptive these supply issues have been, and that having more options would help make things more manageable day to day,” says MacGibbon.
“We’ve heard clearly that people want existing medicines to stay available, with more options if supply is tight. This decision reflects that feedback.”
Rubifen LA will be funded alongside the methylphenidate brands that are already funded.
The decision also includes funding for people with narcolepsy, although this is not an approved use for this brand. This is in line with the funding of other methylphenidate brands.
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/06/24/pharmac-funds-another-adhd-medicine-to-improve-supply/