Critical and Compassionate Medicine Supply in New Zealand
HL Pharma supports hospitals, healthcare professionals, pharmacists and pharmaceutical sponsors requiring urgent access to critical, unapproved and hard-to-source medicines in New Zealand.
HL Pharma coordinates international sourcing and controlled supply to support medicine shortages, compassionate access, named-patient requirements and continuity of treatment. Where an unapproved medicine is required, supply is arranged through the appropriate New Zealand pathway and appropriately licensed local partners, subject to Medsafe requirements, prescriber authorisation and any applicable import permits.
For requirements connected to an active or completed clinical trial, see Early & Post-Clinical Trial Supply & Access.
Our Critical Medical Supply Solutions
Emergency and Urgent Medicine Shortage Support in New Zealand
When an essential medicine is unavailable, discontinued, recalled or affected by unexpected demand, HL Pharma works with procurement, pharmacy and clinical teams to identify appropriate international sourcing options, verify the manufacturer or supplier and establish a practical supply pathway.
Once a suitable product is confirmed, we coordinate the documentation, export and import arrangements required for supply into New Zealand. Each requirement remains subject to product availability, clinical authorisation and applicable regulatory or controlled drug requirements.
For current information on funded medicine supply issues, discontinuations and brand changes in New Zealand, healthcare professionals should refer to Pharmac’s Medicine Notices.
Unapproved Medicines and Compassionate Access
Where a medicine is not approved or routinely available in New Zealand, HL Pharma can support international sourcing and named-patient supply. Depending on the circumstances, access may be arranged under Section 29, through a sponsor-led Managed Access Programme or through an early or post-clinical trial access arrangement.
We work alongside prescribers, hospital pharmacy teams, sponsors, regulatory consultants and New Zealand supply partners to establish the appropriate operational pathway while maintaining product traceability and continuity of supply.
Section 29 and Shortage Supply Coordination
Under Section 29, an unapproved medicine may be supplied for a named patient where the prescriber is a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner or pharmacist prescriber. Where Pharmac funds an unapproved medicine as an alternative to an approved funded medicine in short supply, Section 29A may apply to any authorised prescriber.
HL Pharma can support international sourcing and product verification for these requirements, with each request assessed individually against the applicable Pharmac, Medsafe, prescriber, importer and supplier requirements.
Temperature-Controlled and Controlled Drug Supply
Many critical medicines are temperature-sensitive, high-value or subject to controlled drug requirements. HL Pharma provides validated controlled room temperature, refrigerated and frozen storage through our purpose-built Australian pharmaceutical depot, together with batch and expiry traceability, quarantine controls, documented chain of custody and qualified pharmaceutical logistics.
Controlled drug requirements are assessed against applicable Australian export, New Zealand import and local supply requirements.
Regional Pharmaceutical Depot Supporting New Zealand
HL Pharma’s purpose-built Melbourne facility provides a regional storage and inventory point for critical, compassionate and unapproved medicines destined for New Zealand. Operations are managed within an ISO 9001:2015-certified quality management system and aligned with Good Distribution Practice principles and applicable Australian Good Wholesaling Practice requirements.
For further detail on our quality systems and compliance framework, see our Quality, Regulatory & Compliance Framework
Why Choose HL Pharma for Critical and Compassionate Medicine Supply?
With an international sourcing network spanning more than 15 countries and an established Australian pharmaceutical depot, HL Pharma provides New Zealand healthcare providers and sponsors with one experienced point of coordination when standard medicine supply channels cannot meet an urgent clinical need.