What minimum stock levels, if any, of essential medicines are currently held within the New Zealand public health system, and are these levels considered adequate to withstand a sustained logistics disruption?

Answer

I am advised that Pharmac has contractual arrangements with suppliers to hold certain amounts of stock in the country. Typically, this is two months for medicines. If a suppliers’ stock fall below these levels, they are contractually obligated to notify Pharmac. Suppliers regularly have additional shipments of stock arriving in New Zealand. If there is likely to be a gap in supply Pharmac would put a management plan in place. This plan looks at how long the supply issue could last, if another funded medicine can be used, how much stock of the alternative medicine there is, if the medicine needs to be sourced from a different supplier and how clinicians use the medicine in practice. Pharmac regularly manages over 100 medicine and device supply issues at one time, and most have a minimal impact on patients. Pharmac communicates supply issues to prescribers, pharmacists, wholesalers, and other interested stakeholders. Information is also published on the Pharmac website.