The hospital medical devices programme

What is Pharmac doing?

Pharmac has a key role in managing devices. We are doing this in two ways:

• We are adding hospital medical devices to the Hospital Medical Devices List and negotiating contracts as we go.
• We are developing new processes that will be used to manage changes to the list to keep it relevant to the health needs of all New Zealanders. 

Why is Pharmac doing this work?

In 2012, the Government directed Pharmac to apply its management model to hospital medical devices.

It made this decision because of:

• increasing and potentially unsustainable spending on hospital medical devices
• inconsistent access to hospital medical devices i.e., the hospital medical devices you can access may depend on what hospital you are treated at.

In 2021 the Government commissioned a review of Pharmac. It reiterated that we should continue with the hospital medical devices work, given its strong fit with our capability.

Our response to the Pharmac Review

The benefits of this work

Pharmac has been building a comprehensive list of all medical devices currently used in public hospitals as it works to improve transparency and consistency of medical device funding across New Zealand. 

Our programme will help to manage New Zealand’s increasing spending on hospital medical devices. Pharmac's strategic approach will free up funding in hospitals for reinvestment in services and new technologies. Having a comprehensive list is an important step towards all hospitals in New Zealand having access to the same medical devices, and more consistent pricing and terms and conditions.

We are taking a long-term view and aligning how we manage hospital medical devices with the wider goals of the health and disability system.

Does Pharmac fund hospital medical devices?

Health NZ currently funds hospital medical devices.

Medical devices in the community

Pharmac funds a small number of medical devices used in the community. These are prescribed or ordered by primary care providers. They are generally used to support community medicines or care pathways (such as, diabetes monitoring, EpiPens).

Applications to fund them follow the same process as medicines. If approved for funding, they are listed on the Community Schedule, not the Hospital Medical Devices List.

Make an application for a device to be funded in the community

If you’re unsure whether the product you want listed should be in the Community or Devices Schedule, email enquiry@pharmac.govt.nz

Roles of other agencies in medical devices

Ministry of Health | Manatū Hauora

The Ministry of Health has a key role in administering, implementing, and enforcing legislation, and regulations.  

The Ministry is working on the Medical Products Bill which proposes modern, risk-proportionate regulation of medicines and medical devices in New Zealand.

Regulation and legislation | Ministry of Health website(external link)

Medsafe

Medsafe has a role in the regulation of medical devices in New Zealand.

Medical devices - Medsafe(external link)

Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora

Health NZ manages all health services, including hospital and specialist services, and primary and community care. It weaves the functions of the 20 former District Health Boards (DHBs) into its regional divisions and district offices, ensuring continuity of services in the health system.

Health NZ - What we do(external link)

Whaikaha (Ministry of Disabled People)

Whaikaha (Ministry of Disabled People) is set up in partnership with the community and Māori to transform the lives of many New Zealanders.

Whaikaha - Who we are(external link)

Who to contact

If you have questions about our hospital medical devices work programme, email enquiry@pharmac.govt.nz