PHARMAC to contract Guild for use of Pharmacode®

PHARMAC to contract Guild for use of Pharmacode® system

The Pharmacy Guild of New Zealand (the Guild) has reached an agreement with PHARMAC and the DHBs to fund the public good aspects of the Pharmacode® system that is used by all New Zealand pharmacies and suppliers to pharmacies.

The Pharmacode® system was introduced by the Guild in 1981. The Guild maintains, owns and operates the database. The system uniquely identifies a medicine down to the pack size and strength. New Zealand pharmacies use this system to order their stock and it is the only coding system of its kind in the country. The funding by PHARMAC and the DHBs will ensure that this unique system is available for use in the NZ Universal List of Medicines (NZULM).

At the same time as the public good aspects are funded, the charges to suppliers will change from an annual licence, to a fee per Pharmacode® number purchased. The ongoing viability of the system will be based on the combination of payments by purchasers of Pharmacode® numbers, plus the payment by PHARMAC and the DHBs.

“PHARMAC and the DHBs have agreed to pay the Guild to provide the public good aspects of the Pharmacode® system,” says Annabel Young, Guild Chief Executive. “The Pharmacode® system has largely been paid for by Guild resources and its members for many years, but now the system will be operated on a user pays basis.”

In the past, Guild members were able to use the Pharmacode® system for free as part of the benefit of their membership, while non members paid $500 (plus GST) annually for this service.

It is expected that in the future, Medsafe will mandate Pharmacode® numbers for registration of medicines. There is also a potential for the Pharmacode® system to be used in hospitals.

“The Guild has the resources and the experience to manage this system and we are pleased that PHARMAC has agreed to fund the public good aspects of the system,” says Annabel.

PHARMAC’s Manager Schedule and Contracts, Rachel Mackay, welcomed the agreement: “PHARMAC is pleased to have an agreement that ensures all health professionals can continue to access Pharmacode® data,” she says.

ENDS