18 May 2024 - The shortage of hormone replacement therapy patches is getting worse, and PHARMAC has been too slow to act, doctors specialising in women's health say.

Two of the most popular dosage patches - used to mitigate the symptoms of oestrogen deficiency - are unavailable nationwide, leaving women shopping around different pharmacies, and some having to pay for extra patches to reach their required prescribed dose.

PHARMAC limits funding to two patches per week but said it was reconsidering this restriction, as well as moving to fund alternatives such as oestrogen gels.

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