Pharmac seeking feedback on plans to modernise the Pharmaceutical Schedule

Source: PHARMAC

12 February 2026

Media release Medicines Hospital devices

Pharmac has begun work to update the Pharmaceutical Schedule to make it easier to use, faster to update, and fit for a modern health system.

“The Pharmaceutical Schedule is a national tool that helps people understand which medicines, vaccines, medical devices, and related products are publicly funded,” says Pharmac’s Director of Strategy, Policy and Performance Michael Johnson.

“It has served New Zealanders for many years, but it now needs to be modernised so it can better support today’s rapidly changing health system.”

Published in 1994, it has not kept up with advances in technology, changes in the health system, or the growth in Pharmac’s responsibilities. Over time, it has expanded from listing medicines funded in the community to include vaccines and the medicines and medical devices used in hospitals.

“The Schedule was not designed to be this big, or this complex, and the digital systems used to manage it are outdated and need replacing.”

“It also needs to align with modern health sector standards and be updated more rapidly when required.”

The redevelopment project aims to make the Schedule clearer, easier to navigate, and simpler to keep up to date.

“This work will help future‑proof the Schedule. By modernising how information is organised and presented, it will be easier for people to find what they’re looking for and understand how funded products can be used,” says Johnson.

Pharmac is proposing several improvements, including:

Reorganising the Schedule into a single online resource, with separate sections for general rules, medicines and related products, and hospital medical devices.
Moving to an online‑only format with the capability to update as needed, allowing information to be published more quickly and accessed in different ways.
Making funding rules easier to understand by grouping them into funding pathways, which will show people how a product can be funded, such as on a prescription or for use in a hospital.
Making identifying medicines and devices easier by ensuring the way they are described is consistent with the rest of the health system.
Keeping key processes the same, with no proposed changes to how Pharmac makes decisions, existing clinical criteria beyond routine updates, or claiming processes.

“We want to hear from people about how these changes might work for them. Your feedback helps us understand what we need to consider and what support may be needed during the transition,” says Johnson.

If you would like to provide feedback or share general comments, please email schedule@pharmac.govt.nz or use the online form. Consultation closes 5 pm, Friday 13 March 2026.

What is Pharmac doing?

Pharmac is redeveloping the Pharmaceutical Schedule so it is easier to use, better organised, and supported by modern digital systems. The new Schedule will be online‑only, with the capability to update as needed, rather than relying on the current monthly publication cycle.

It will have one integrated structure, including general and prescribing rules, medicines and related products, and hospital medical devices.

The redeveloped Schedule will also use clearer funding pathways to show how products can be funded in different settings, and it will adopt national health information standards, such as the New Zealand Medicines Terminology, so medicines and devices are described consistently across the health system.

Why is Pharmac doing it?

The Schedule was first published in 1994, and it has not kept pace with advances in technology, changes in the health system, or the growth in Pharmac’s responsibilities.

Over time, it has expanded from listing medicines funded in the community to also include vaccines, hospital medicines, and hospital medical devices. This expansion has created different funding arrangements depending on where and how products are used, and over time these arrangements have become needlessly complex.

The digital systems that support the Schedule are also outdated and need replacing. Redeveloping the Schedule will ensure it is supported by modern digital infrastructure, can accommodate current and future complexity, and can be updated more quickly and reliably when needed.