Proposal to list various radiological contrast media supplied by Regional Health Limited

Summary of the proposal

In summary, this proposal would result in:

• Listing the following brands of barium sulphate radiological contrast media products in Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule:
  • EZ Cat Dry
  • EZ HD Barium
  • EZ Paste
  • Liquibar (oral liquid)
  • Liquibar (enema)
  • Liquid Polibar
  • Readi-Cat
  • Readi-Cat 2
  • Taigtol V
  • Varibar – nectar
  • Varibar – honey
  • Varibar – pudding
  • Varibar – thin liquid
  • Volumen
  • X Opaque HD
  • CT Plus+
• Listing the following radiological contrast media products in Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule:
  • barium sulphate with sodium bicarbonate (EZ Gas II)
  • gadobenic acid (Multihance)
  • diatrizoate sodium (Ioscan)

The background to and details of the proposal can be found on the following pages.

Feedback sought

PHARMAC welcomes feedback on this proposal. To provide feedback, please submit it in writing by 4pm, Wednesday, 27 August 2014 to:

All feedback received before the closing date will be considered by PHARMAC’s Board (or its delegate) prior to making a decision on this proposal.

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 withheld. PHARMAC will give due consideration to any such request.

Background

In September 2013 PHARMAC released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for supply of radiological contrast media for the DHB Hospitals. The RFP document can be found at the following link:

• Request for proposals - Supply of radiological contrast media [PDF, 196 KB]

The timetable for the RFP was amended on the 18 December 2013 and further detail can be found at:

• Amendment to anticipated timetable: Request for proposals - Radiological contrast media [PDF, 137 KB]

A decision was made in June 2014 to list a number of radiological contrast media agents from 1 July 2014 under agreements with GE Healthcare, Bayer, Obex Medical and Global Medical Solutions. Further details on this decision can be found at:

• Listing of various contrast media

The proposed listings and amendments are as a result of this RFP process and are the last listings that will be made as a result of the RFP.

Details of the proposals

A provisional agreement with Regional Health Limited would result in the following listings and amendments.

• New listings in Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 October 2014 (prices are ex-manufacturer and excluding GST):

  Chemical	Presentation	Brand	Pack size	Price
  Barium sulphate	20 mg per g (2% w/w ), 23 g sachet	EZ Cat Dry	50	$507.50
  Barium sulphate	98.38% w/w, 340 g bottle	EZ HD Barium	24	$219.84
  Barium sulphate	600 mg per g (60% w/w), 454 g tube	EZ Paste	1	$36.51
  Barium sulphate	1250 mg per ml (125% w/v), 2000 ml bottle	Liquibar (Oral liquid)	1	$91.77
  Barium sulphate	1250 mg per ml (125% w/v), 500 ml bag	Liquibar (Enema)	12	$282.30
  Barium sulphate	1000 mg per ml (100% w/v, 56% w/w), 1900 ml bottle	Liquid Polibar	1	$72.86
  Barium sulphate	13 mg per ml (1.3% w/v, 1.2% w/w), 450 ml bottle	Readi-Cat	24	$240.48
  Barium sulphate	21 mg per ml (2.1% w/v, 2% w/w), 250 ml bottle	Readi-Cat 2	24	$140.94
  Barium sulphate	400 mg per ml (40% w/v, 30% w/w), 20 ml bottle	Tagitol V	3	$52.35
  Barium sulphate	400 mg per ml (40% w/v), 240 ml bottle	Varibar – Nectar	1	$38.40
  Barium sulphate	400 mg per ml (40% w/v), 250 ml bottle	Varibar – Honey	1	$155.35
  Barium sulphate	400 mg per ml (40% w/v), 230 ml bottle	Varibar – Pudding	1	$145.04
  Barium sulphate	40% w/v, 30% w/w, 148 g bottle	Varibar – Thin liquid	1	$17.39
  Barium sulphate	1 mg per ml (0.1% w/v, 0.1% w/w), 450 ml bottle	Volumen	24	$441.12
  Barium sulphate	97.65% w/w, 300 g pot	X Opaque HD	24	$237.76
  Barium sulphate with sodium bicarbonate	382.2 mg per g with sodium bicarbonate 551.3 mg per g, 4 g sachet	EZ Gas II	50	$102.93

• Amended listings in Part II of Section H from 1 October 2014 as follows (prices are ex-manufacturer and excluding GST):

  Chemical	Presentation	Brand	Pack size	Current price	Proposed price
  Barium sulphate	22 mg per g (2.2% w/w), 250 ml bottle	CT Plus+	24	$175.00	$175.00
  Barium sulphate	22 mg per g (2.2% w/w), 450 ml bottle	CT Plus+	24	$220.00	$220.00
  Gadobenic acid	334 mg per ml, 10 ml vial	Multihance	10	$324.74	$324.74
  Gadobenic acid	334 mg per ml, 20 ml vial	Multihance	10	$636.28	$636.28
  Diatrizoate sodium	370 mg per ml, 10 ml sachet	Ioscan	50	$156.12	$156.12

• All pharmaceuticals supplied by Regional Health Limited under this provisional agreement would have delisting protection up to and including 30 June 2017.