NZ women missing out amid HRT shortage
Around one in 10 women who use hormone patches say they are unable to source the menopause treatment.
Shortages of the most commonly-used hormone replacement therapy (HRT) patches have become so severe that bulk-buying agency Pharmac has acknowledged some people will now miss out.
In an update on Friday, Pharmac reiterated that Estradot-brand patches remained “very limited” and “some people will not be able to get” the funded treatment. The supply problem was likely to continue until next year, the agency said.
Around 60,000 New Zealand women use HRT treatments, which release estrogen into the body in a controlled way and help to mitigate menopause symptoms and prevent long-term illnesses.
Napier-based GP Dr Samantha Newman, who has a special interest in menopause treatment, began surveying HRT patch users last week to understand the shortage’s impact.
Out of more than 700 respondents in an online survey, 70 per cent said they had been told by their pharmacist they had no patches available. About 8 per cent had gone to five or more pharmacies before obtaining the treatment, and 13 per cent were unable to get the medication at all.
“I know one patient had to drive 45 minutes to a pharmacy which had stock and was told, ‘Sorry, we’ve run out now’, once she got there,” she said.
Newman said for one of her patients, access to HRT medication was a matter of life and death.
“I’ve had an email from one woman who is frightened for her life,” she said. “She was suicidal before her doctor prescribed HRT and now that she can’t get it any more, she is panicking.”
A patient in Auckland told the Herald there was a waiting list of 80 people at their local pharmacy, and once supplies arrived they would only get a week’s worth.
There are large numbers of social media posts with women seeking advice on which pharmacies had supplies of the patches.
Pharmac senior therapeutic group manager Alexandra Compton said the Estradot shortage was worldwide.
She said Pharmac had worked closely with the supplier and had sourced alternative brands.
“Unfortunately, we have not been able to prevent some supply gaps.”
Some doctors and patients say Pharmac has been slow to respond. The shortage dates back to 2020 and was driven by rising demand and Covid-related supply chain issues.