Proposal to list a range of interventional cardiology products by Obex Medical Limited

Hospital devices Consultation Closed

PHARMAC is seeking feedback on a proposal to list a range of interventional cardiology products supplied by Obex Medical Limited (“Obex”) in Part III of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 February 2016.

In summary, this proposal would result in:

  • 3 interventional cardiology products (Guideliner guide catheter extensions) which are already supplied to DHB Hospitals being supplied under a proposed national agreement with Obex that all DHBs may purchase under, subject to consultation and approval. This agreement is not a sole supply agreement, and DHBs may continue to purchase other suppliers’ brands of interventional cardiology products.
  • Obex providing educational services that will be tailored to suit the needs of individual DHB Hospitals in format and time as required by DHB Hospitals.
  • No expenditure increases, or savings, to DHBs based on current usage of the Obex products (cost neutral offer).

Pricing for interventional cardiology products in the agreement, subject to any prior termination of the agreement would not be increased before 1 February 2019.

The Guideliner guide catheter extensions were originally the subject of a PHARMAC consultation (18 September 2015) for a proposal to list a range of Interventional Cardiology products supplied by Pyramed Pty Limited.   During the consultation process Pyramed Pty Limited notified PHARMAC that they had appointed a New Zealand based distributor (Obex) for this range of products. The provisional agreement with Pyramed Pty Limited was not progressed and a new provisional agreement for the products has been established with Obex.

Feedback sought

PHARMAC welcomes feedback on this proposal. To provide feedback, please submit it in writing by Friday 11 December 2015 to:

Jacquie Pillay
Devices Category Manager
PHARMAC                                                  
PO Box 10254
Wellington 6143

Email: jacquie.pillay@pharmac.govt.nz
Fax:      04 460 4995

All feedback received before the closing date will be considered by PHARMAC’s Board (or its delegate) prior to making decisions on these proposals.

Feedback we receive is subject to the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) and we will consider any request to have information withheld in accordance with our obligations under the OIA. Anyone providing feedback, whether on their own account or on behalf of an organisation, and whether in a personal or professional capacity, should be aware that the content of their feedback and their identity may need to be disclosed in response to an OIA request.

We are not able to treat any part of your feedback as confidential unless you specifically request that we do, and then only to the extent permissible under the OIA and other relevant laws and requirements. If you would like us to withhold any commercially sensitive, confidential proprietary, or personal information included in your submission, please clearly state this in your submission and identify the relevant sections of your submission that you would like it withheld. PHARMAC will give due consideration to any such request.

Details of the proposal

PHARMAC has entered into a provisional agreement with Obex for a range of interventional cardiology products. The exact product range and pricing in this proposal has not been included in this consultation for brevity, however we are making it available to Procurement Departments at DHBs. The product range is as follows:

Guideliner guide catheter extensions

If the agreement is approved by PHARMAC’s Board or its delegate, Obex’s range of interventional cardiology products would be listed in Part III of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule, which contains products with national agreements that DHBs are able to purchase under.

The agreement includes terms for education services to be provided by Obex to DHB personnel on appropriate use of its interventional cardiology products, which is to be provided at times as agreed with individual DHBs.