As New Zealand’s previous sources of povidone iodine 5% dry up, local supplier Medix21 has stepped in to find an alternative source to meet the country’s increasing needs.
Povidone iodine (PI) 5% is a disinfectant and antiseptic agent commonly used prior to ophthalmic surgery and intraocular injections and, less frequently, to treat conditions such as infectious keratitis, endophthalmitis and some forms of conjunctivitis.
Medix21 surgical sales manager Camille Furnandiz said she was only made aware of the country’s rapidly depleting PI stocks in 2023. “When I contacted Pharmac in May 2023, they told me they don’t currently fund any povidone iodine products for ophthalmology. I left it at that stage but then heard from several clinicians later in the year who said the hospitals were running out.” This means an increasing number of ophthalmic teams are being forced to look at more expensive and less straightforward alternatives, she said. This includes using single-use PI bottles, which can cost up to 50x as much, according to one ophthalmologist, or diluting PI 10%, which can affect the pH level and result in additional discomfort for patients. “Everyone prefers to use larger bottles for multiple patients, rather than single-use ampoules with lots more packaging, waste and cost involved,” said Wellington-based ophthalmologist Dr Jesse Gale.
