Agreement for the supply of orthopaedic implants and associated products supplied by Surgical Specialities (NZ) Limited

What we are doing

We’re pleased to announce the approval of a listing agreement with Surgical Specialties (NZ) Limited for the supply of orthopaedic implants and associated products (“Orthopaedic Products”).

In summary, this will result in:

• Surgical Specialties’ Orthopaedic Products being listed in the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 August 2018 under a national listing agreement that all DHBs may purchase under (the “Agreement”).
• DHBs continuing to be able to purchase other suppliers’ brands of Orthopaedic Products as the Agreement is not for sole supply.
• This agreement is estimated to be cost neutral, based on historical volumes.

Any changes to the original proposal?

These decisions were subject to a consultation letter dated 15 June 2018. No changes have been made to the Agreement as a result of consultation feedback. 

Who we think will be most interested

• Suppliers and Wholesalers
• DHB Staff:
  • Orthopaedic Surgeons
  • Theatre Nurses
  • Sterile Services Personnel
  • Procurement and supply chain personnel

Detail about this decision

In April 2016 PHARMAC issued a request for proposals (“RFP”) for orthopaedic implants and associated products.  The RFP requested proposals for non-exclusive national agreements for listing on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

After completing the RFP evaluation process, and consulting on the provisional Agreement reached with Surgical Specialties, PHARMAC has decided to list Surgical Specialties’ Orthopaedic Products in Part III of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 August 2018.

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

DHBs that purchase Surgical Specialties’ range of Orthopaedic Products must do so under the terms and conditions, and at the prices, included in the Agreement, from 1 August 2018.

DHBs can continue to choose which Orthopaedic Products they purchase.

Educational services will be provided by Surgical Specialties on the appropriate use of their medical devices, at times as agreed with individual DHBs.

This Agreement is the latest to be approved in the Orthopaedics Products category and further consultations in this category are expected over the next few months.

The range of medical devices included in the Agreement is set out below:

Our response to what you told us

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

The one consultation response received by 6 July 2018 was considered in its entirety in making a decision to approve the provisional Agreement.

The feedback received and our response is set out below:

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.