Thursday, 2 October 2025, 11:22 am
Press Release: PHARMAC
New Zealanders living with, or at risk of, HIV could soon
benefit from proposed changes to how HIV medicines are
funded and supplied.
Pharmac is consulting on a
proposal to remove Special Authority and Hospital Indication
criteria for all funded antiretroviral medicines for HIV. If
approved, from 1 December 2025, people would no longer need
to meet these criteria to access funded HIV
medicines.
The proposal also includes practical
improvements to how HIV medicines are dispensed. All HIV
medicines could be dispensed in three-month amounts, rather
than monthly, making it easier for people to manage their
treatment and reduce pharmacy visits.
Additionally,
two HIV medicines – emtricitabine with tenofovir disoproxil
and dolutegravir – would be made available on a
Practitioner’s Supply Order (PSO) for Post Exposure
Prophylaxis (PEP). This would allow prescribers to keep
these medicines in their clinics for urgent
use.
Pharmac’s Manager Pharmaceutical Funding,
Claire Pouwels, says the proposed changes are expected to
reduce barriers and improve access to treatment.
“If
successful, these changes will support more equitable health
outcomes for New Zealanders living with or at risk of
HIV,” says Pouwels.
“We know that timely access to
HIV medicines can be life changing. By making these
treatments more convenient and available, we’re hoping to
support people to stay well.”
“We’ve listened to
feedback from clinicians, pharmacists, and advocacy groups
who have told us that current funding criteria can delay
urgent treatment, especially for Post-Exposure Prophylaxis
(PEP). These changes will make a real difference for our
communities, ensuring people can get the medicines they
need, when they need them,” she says.
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Pharmac is
seeking feedback from clinicians, advocacy groups, and the
public. Consultation is open until 4pm, Monday 20 October
2025. Feedback can be submitted through the online
form or emailed to consult@pharmac.govt.nz.
All
feedback will be considered before a final decision is
made.
Proposal
to change the funding criteria for HIV medicines:
https://www.pharmac.govt.nz/news-and-resources/consultations-and-decisions/2025-10-proposal-to-change-the-funding-criteria-for-hiv-medicines
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