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“The Schedule was not designed to be this big, or this complex, and the digital systems used to manage it are outdated and need replacing.”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