Changes are coming to the Community Pharmacy Services Agreement, but it's not clear whether next year's new contract will be very different from the current model.
The authorities are urging pharmacists to report any health stores or other businesses illegally selling pharmacy-only medicines, in the wake of a widespread scandal uncovered by Pharmacy Today.
Pharmac has suspended sole supply and hospital sole supply status of Metoprolol Succinate, the heart medication at the centre of a nationwide shortage, allowing it to list new brands of the drug.
An emergency shipment of metoprolol succinate meant to ease supply pressures on the heart medication has been rendered unusable by exposure to heat on its way to New Zealand.
Pharmac is funding an alternative brand of metoprolol succinate to help rebuild New Zealand's supply of the heart medication following a worldwide shortage.
A small coalition of opponents to the Natural Health and Supplementary Products Bill has issued a legal challenge to the proposed legislation, although supporters of the bill are sceptical of whether such a challenge is even possible.
Pharmac has announced the heart medication metoprolol succinate will remain on monthly dispensing for "the foreseeable future", despite some claims it would be back on stat dispensing by March.