Flavoured condoms may be added to Pharmac list

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Pharmac plans to add flavoured condoms to the range of contraceptives that it subsidises.

The Government drug-funding agency has started consulting with stakeholders on its proposal to add a wider range of condoms on its pharmaceutical schedule – including narrow (49mm nominal width), wide (55mm and 60mm nominal widths) and flavoured condoms.

"We recognised there might be a need for a wider range," Pharmac manager of funding and procurement Steffan Crausaz said.

"So we went out to suppliers and asked them for some proposals for expanding the range of condoms on a subsidised basis in exchange for price reductions.

"We have two suppliers who made proposals for different types (of condom) and received a price reduction in return for those different brands."

One of the two suppliers – Jackson Allison Medical and Surgical Limited – includes a flavoured brand among its range proposed for Pharmac subsidy.

Pharmac already fully subsidises half a dozen brands of condom and partly subsidises another.

It is seeking feedback from medical and patient groups and suppliers on its proposal to widen the range of subsidised condoms.

It spends $860,000 a year subsidising condoms and $8.7 million on contraception overall.

NZPA