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Does Pharmac maintain a prioritisation list identifying life-critical medicines, such as insulin, anticoagulants and immunosuppressants, that would receive priority distribution in the event of a supply-chain disruption; if so, when was the list last reviewed?

Answered Question 16927 (2026)
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Asked by

Ayesha Verrall

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • Does Pharmac maintain a prioritisation list identifying life-critical medicines, such as insulin, anticoagulants and immunosuppressants, that would receive priority distribution in the event of a supply-chain disruption; if so, when was the list last reviewed?

Answered by

Hon David Seymour

Member for Epsom · ACT Party · Associate Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that Pharmac does not maintain a prioritisation list. It is not always possible to prioritise supply of one medicine above another, as medicines are used by different people, for different conditions, and with different alternatives available.