4 May 2017 - Pharmacists are relieved the long-running shortage of heart medication metoprolol succinate is over, but are concerned the same thing might happen again if PHARMAC does not make changes to its processes.

A widely prescribed beta blocker in New Zealand, metoprolol was reduced from stat to monthly dispensing in January last year due to a shortage of the product.

In late March,15 months down the track, PHARMAC announced the situation had finally been resolved and stat dispensing would return from 1 May.

During the 15 month shortage period, frustration among pharmacists grew, largely due to having to constantly explain to patients about the new brands they were ­dispensing.

Read New Zealand Doctor article