Decision to list medical devices supplied by EBOS Group Limited and Talgram Health (NZ) Ltd

Hospital devices Decision

What we are doing

We’re pleased to announce the approval of listing agreements with EBOS Group Limited (“EBOS”) for the supply of medical thermometers and single use instruments, and with Talgram Health (NZ) Ltd (“Talgram”) for the supply of needles and syringes.

In summary this will result in:

  • EBOS’ medical thermometers and single use instruments and Talgram’s needles and syringes being listed on the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 October 2018 under national agreements that all DHBs may purchase under (“Agreements”).
  • Estimated national savings of $6,000 per annum for Talgram’s needles and syringes, assuming no change to current usage levels or product mix. The EBOS Agreement is essentially cost neutral.
  • DHBs continuing to be able to purchase other suppliers’ brands of medical thermometers, single use instruments and needles and syringes.

Any changes to the original proposal?

This decision was subject to consultation dated 30 July 2018.

No changes have been made to the listing agreements as a result of consultation feedback. 

Who we think will be most interested

  • Suppliers and Wholesalers
  • DHB Staff:
    • Clinical Engineers
    • Clinical staff working in surgical and medical units, emergency departments, intensive and critical care units, and outpatient units
    • District nurses
    • Procurement Officers

Detail about this decision

In 2016 and 2017, PHARMAC issued Requests for Proposals (“RFPs”) for medical thermometers, single use instruments, and needles and syringes. The RFPs were for non-exclusive national agreements for listing on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

After completing the RFP evaluation processes and consulting on the provisional Agreements reached with EBOS and Talgram, PHARMAC has decided to list EBOS’ range of medical thermometers and single use instruments, and Talgram’s range of needles and syringes in Part III of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 October 2018.

The list of products will be available on PHARMAC's website from 1 October 2018, in both a PDF document and an Excel spreadsheet.

DHBs that purchase EBOS’ medical thermometers and single use instruments, and Talgram’s needles and syringes, must do so under the terms and conditions and at the prices included in Agreement, from 1 October 2018. DHBs can continue to choose which medical thermometers, single use instruments and needles and syringes products they purchase.

The Agreements include terms and conditions for training and education to be provided by EBOS and Talgram, on the appropriate use of their medical devices, which is to be provided at times as agreed with individual DHBs.

This is the final agreement in the medical thermometers category. PHARMAC expects to consult on further agreements with suppliers of single use instruments and needles and syringes over the next few months.

Our response to what you told us

We appreciate the time people took to respond to this consultation.

A summary of the main themes raised in feedback and our responses to the feedback received are set out below: 

Theme

PHARMAC Staff Comment

Advising that no technical or resource impacts are anticipated as a result of the proposals.

Noted

DHB impact analysis that is based on the information provided in response to the RFP is out of date and not particularly useful. 

Where possible updated sales data is obtained from suppliers to provide an up to date financial impact analysis for DHBs. 

If you have any questions about this decision, you can email us at enquiry@pharmac.govt.nz; or call our toll free number (9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday) on 0800 66 00 50.