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Pharmac has confirmed changes to Special Authority renewal requirements for selected medicines and products.
From 1 December 2025, Pharmac will remove the need to renew Special Authority approvals for the following treatments:
More information about Pharmac's decision is available at:
We're grateful to everyone who shared their views during consultation. Your feedback helped shape this decision.
We want to make sure that everyone who needs to know about this decision is aware of it. Please share this information with people you think might be interested.
Pharmac | Te Pātaka Whaioranga | P: 0800 660 050 | www.pharmac.govt.nz
FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus has launched to great success - supporting thousands of New Zealanders living with diabetes improve their glycaemic control. Pharmac has announced that from the 1st November 2025, FreeStyle Libre 2 will be discontinued and replaced by FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus.
MediRay are in the process of transitioning away from FreeStyle Libre 2 and need your help to upgrade your patients now to experience the benefits our new FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus sensor offers:
- Extended 15-day wear time
- Approved from age 2 years and up
- Our most accurate sensor#.1
- Funded by Pharmac for Patients with Type 1 Diabetes and some other specified forms of diabetes.
UPGRADE YOUR PATIENTS NOW: Transitioning your patients to FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus is NOT an automatic process.
Please complete a new prescription for your patients that are currently on a FreeStyle Libre 2, by writing on the new prescription 'FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus". The existing Special Authority does NOT need to be changed.
This will avoid the future rush when the current FreeStyle Libre 2 is withdrawn by Pharmac on the 1st November 2025.
If you require any further support, please feel free to contact Kevin Anderson on 021349991 or kevin@mediray.co.nz or visit FreeStyleConnect.co.nz.
Kevin Anderson
Division Manager - Diabetes Care
MEDIRAY
www.mediray.co.nz
Kia ora koutou
We have received the following communication from the Pharmac Implementation team:
YpsoPump is now iOS compatible
From 10 June 2025, the mobile phone application for the mylife YpsoPump is compatible with iOS phones.
Factsheet about CamAPS on iOS | Pharmaco website [PDF](external link)
Medtronic (MiniMed 770G) insulin pumps:
People currently using Medtronic MiniMed 770G insulin pumps have until 1 October 2026 to move to a different funded pump.
The 4-year rule does not apply to people moving from Medtronic insulin pumps
The "Maximum of 1 insulin pump per patient each four-year period" rule does not apply for people changing from a funded Medtronic pump to the Tandem or YpsoPump. They can receive a funded pump, even if they got their Medtronic pump less than 4 years ago.
More about insulin pumps, consumables and CGMs | Pharmac website
Please ensure that the brand of funded insulin pumps is chosen carefully.
It is vital that all considerations are made in relation to personal circumstances. Especially important is the difference in algorithms between the two brands which may not be compatible with an individual's needs. The requirement that the Ypso pump requires a smart phone to operate the closed-loop system is also an important factor to consider, as some people may have difficulty operating a phone.
Dulaglutide: New patients from 1 July 2025
From 1 July 2025, we lifted the "no new patient" restriction from dulaglutide (Trulicity). This follows our earlier decision to re-open access to liraglutide (Victoza) from 1 March 2025.
Eligible people with type 2 diabetes will be able to start using funded dulaglutide or liraglutide. The restriction had been placed on these medicines to help manage the global shortage, which had been caused by rapid increase in demand worldwide.
Questions:
If you have any queries, please contact: enquiry@pharmac.govt.nz
Please also visit the NZSSD website to view the NZSSD Type 2 Guidance for information on prescribing and monitoring recommendations.
Ngā mihi
Jo McClintock
President
NZSSD
Kia ora koutou
I am very pleased to share this news about access to GLP1a dulaglutide.
From 1 July 2025, Pharmac is removing the 'no new patient restriction' on the GLP1a dulaglutide (branded as Trulicity). This means people with type 2 diabetes, who meet the eligibility criteria, will be able to start on treatment with this medicine.
More information about the ongoing supply issue is available on the Pharmac website: Dulaglutide(Trulicity) and Liraglutide (Victoza): Supply issue
Please also visit the NZSSD Type 2 diabetes guidance for information on when/in which patients it is appropriate to prescribe a GLP1Ra, and prescribing and monitoring recommendations.
This is great news for people living with type 2 diabetes and the health professionals caring for them.
Ngā mihi nui
Jo
Dr Jo McClintock(she/her)
Consultant Clinical Psychologist |Kaimātai Hauora Hinengaro
President - New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes
Kia ora koutou
A bit of a mixed bag update but an essential one. Thanks to all who have reached out about the CVD calculator. We have updated the website to prioritise the more accurate and contemporary VAREANZ risk predictor calculator which includes an equation for people with type 2 diabetes. https://nzssd.org.nz/resources/section/calculators
We have been made aware of a number of deep fakes promoting fake "diabetes medications" that are using NZSSD members names, faces, and voices. This is a serious concern that requires wide spread awareness. Attached is our media release and we would appreciate if you can circulate this on your own or your workplaces social media channels. We also strongly recommend that anyone impacted by these deep fakes contact the NZ Police.
Thirdly, we wanted to comment on the extended prescription period from three to twelve months. This will have a positive impact for many people living with diabetes for a range of reasons. It remains important however that clinical decision making is the basis for selecting an appropriate prescribing period and the rationale is communicated clearly to tāngata whaiora to manage any concerns or expectations they may have.
Both the NZSSD executive and I are happy to take any further questions or feedback on these issues.
Ngā mihi,
Jo
Dr Jo McClintock (she/her)
Consultant Clinical Psychologist | Kaimātai Hauora Hinengaro
President - New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes
president@nzssd.org.nz
Kia ora koutou
You may have seen the announcement from Pharmac this week about funding changes that will come into affect on 1 May 2025. .
Freestyle Libre 2 Plus CGM:
From 1 May 2025, Pharmac will be listing the FreeStyle Libre
2 Plus CGM as a standalone continuous glucose monitor (CGM) alongside the
currently listed FreeStyle Libre 2.
The FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus is more accurate than the previous model, it can
also be used for longer. The size, phone app, reader, adhesive, and application
method are the same as the FreeStyle Libre 2. Everyone who is currently
eligible for a funded FreeStyle Libre 2 will be able to switch to the FreeStyle
Libre 2 Plus.
The FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus can be worn for 15 days - a day longer than the
previous model. Because people can wear it for longer, Pharmac is changing how
many people can get on a prescription from 29 per year to 28 per year. This
aligns the FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus with other CGM's that we fund.
It will be available from 1 May 2025, and the currently funded FreeStyle Libre
2 will be delisted from November 2025.
Please pass this news onto your networks as I appreciate there will be a great
deal of interest in this change.
More information is on Pharmac's website
here.
Insulin Degludec with insulin aspart (Ryzodeg)
Pharmac is funding a new type of insulin (branded as Ryzodeg) for people with diabetes from 1 May 2025.
This is a mix insulin with a longer basal insulin combined with insulin aspart. As you know other mix insulins provided by Novo Nordisk have been phased out (PenMix and Mixtard) or will be in the near future (NovoMix) https://www.pharmac.govt.nz/medicine-funding-and-supply/medicine-notices/insulin
Ryzodeg will be an alternative option that may be beneficial for many people with T2DM.
Read the full details here:
The NZSSD Guidance group will be meeting in early May and will ensure all of our guidance documents are updated, with additional information about Ryzodeg.
Ngā mihi
Rosemary
Dr Rosemary Hall
Endocrinologist, Te Whatu Ora; Wellington and Tairāwhiti
President New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes
president@nzssd.org.nz
Secretariat: Secretary@nzssd.org.nz
NZSSD website: www.nzssd.org.nz
Kia ora koutou
You may have seen the notice from Pharmac yesterday allowing new special authority applications for liraglutide (Victoza) from 1 March 2025. We are very pleased that the special authority criteria will be the same as when SA's were suspended in May 2024. This will again allow us to prescribe according to our national guidelines and best practice, and we all know how beneficial this will be for people living with diabetes. We are assured by Pharmac that the intention is for no further suspensions of special authority criteria for GLP-1 agonists to allow ongoing access for those who meet criteria. It is of course important, as previously, that these medications are prescribed only for people with T2DM so that availability continues.
The link to detailed information from Pharmac is:
Decision to enable new people to start treatment withliraglutide for type 2 diabetes
Unfortunately, we don't have such good news regarding the global shortage of Glucagon and the limited allocation to Aotearoa NZ.
Glucagon hydrochloride (Glucagen Hypokit): Supply issue
We will continue to keep you informed as more information becomes available.
Ngā mihi
Rosemary
Dr Rosemary Hall
Endocrinologist, Te Whatu Ora; Wellington and Tairāwhiti
President New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes
We know that this decision will also bring some anxiety for
our already stretched health system and workforce. NZSSD will provide as much
clinical and practical support as we can to enable the process to be as
streamlined and equitable as possible. We will keep you informed of education
opportunities and guidelines and welcome widespread discussion and resource
sharing.
I have attached our media release.
Pharmac's information page has details of the revised special authority criteria and processes around transitioning people from Medtronic systems.
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Ngā mihi
Rosemary
Dr Rosemary HallEndocrinologist
President New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes
president@nzssd.org.nz
secretary@nzssd.org.nz
NZSSD website: www.nzssd.org
Please see the attached notice.
We suggest transferring people over to a new insulin well in advance of 30 September, to avoid any supply issues