Proposal to list infusion and feeding devices supplied by Fresenius Kabi New Zealand Limited

What we’re proposing

• Non-dedicated & consumable infusion devices (“infusion devices”);
• Non-dedicated feeding devices (“feeding devices”);
• Infusion equipment and associated devices; and
• Feeding equipment and associated devices.

Consultation closes at 4pm Wednesday 3 March 2021 and feedback can be emailed to tyson.edwards@pharmac.govt.nz.

What would the effect be?

From 1 April 2021, infusion devices and feeding devices supplied by Fresenius Kabi would be listed under a proposed national agreement for all DHB hospitals to purchase under, subject to consultation and approval by PHARMAC’s Board or delegate (“Agreement”).

The Agreement would not be for sole supply and DHBs could continue to purchase other suppliers’ brands of products in these categories of devices.

The Agreement would supersede any existing DHB contracts with Fresenius Kabi for the products included in the Agreement. Any product listed in the Agreement and purchased by a DHB would be in accordance with the terms and conditions, including price, stated in the Agreement effective from the date of listing on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

Fresenius Kabi would provide appropriate educational services that would be tailored to the individual needs of DHBs, in formats and at times as required by DHBs.

Pricing for the devices in this Agreement, subject to any prior termination of the Agreement, would not be increased without prior consultation and approval by PHARMAC.

Who we think will be interested

• DHB clinical staff in a range of different clinical settings inluding:
  
  • Procurement officers and supply chain personnel
  • Clinical engineers and maintenance services
  • ICU, emergency, and critical care staff
  • Anaesthetists
  • Perioperative care staff
  • Surgeons
  • Dietitians
  • Nurses (both inpatient and community based)
  • Geriatricians
  • Neurologists
  • Gastroenterologists
  • Paediatricians
• Suppliers and wholesalers

About the medical devices

Infusion devices

Infusion devices are medical devices used, or associated with devices used, in the infusion of fluids such as medications, intravenous solutions (such as saline, glucose, and electrolyte solutions), blood, total parenteral nutrition (TPN) solutions into the body. This includes medical devices used in intravenous therapy as well as other infusion therapies.

PHARMAC’s infusion devices category includes:

• non-dedicated and consumable infusion devices not associated with infusion equipment; and
• infusion equipment and associated devices.

Feeding devices

Feeding devices are medical devices used to deliver nutrition and hydration into the body through the gastrointestinal tract (enteral nutrition). Devices that supply nutrition via the circulatory system (parenteral nutrition) are contracted under the Infusion devices category.

Providing nutrition to patients who cannot consume adequate food and/or fluids orally is important to optimise healing, reduce recovery times, and lower complication rates. Feeding devices are used by patients with a wide variety of clinical conditions and across both acute and community-based settings.

PHARMAC’s feeding devices category includes:

• Feeding equipment and associated devices
• Non-dedicated feeding devices

Why we’re proposing this

In 2018 PHARMAC issued Requests for Proposals for:

• supply of infusion devices (including non-dedicated and consumable infusion devices and infusion equipment and associated devices); and
• supply of feeding devices and/or special foods delivered enterally or orally.

The RFPs were for non-exclusive national agreements for listing on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

PHARMAC has been working with suppliers who responded to the RFPs to seek provisional agreements. This proposal is the latest to arise from this process and we expect to consult on further provisional agreements with suppliers of Infusion and Feeding Devices throughout 2021.

Details about our proposal

PHARMAC has entered into a provisional agreement with Fresenius Kabi for the supply of infusion and feeding devices. The proposal would result in Pharmaceutical Schedule listings for:

Further information, including pricing and contractual details, has been provided to DHB procurement personnel. Clinicians interested in further detail on what this change means for their DHB should engage with their procurement teams.

To provide feedback

Send us an email: tyson.edwards@pharmac.govt.nz by 4pm Tuesday 27 October 2020.

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.

Your feedback may be shared

Feedback we receive is subject to the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). Please be aware that we may need to share your feedback, including your identity, in response to an OIA request. This applies to anyone providing feedback, whether they are providing feedback themselves or for an organisation, in a personal or professional capacity.

We can only keep feedback confidential as allowed under the OIA and other related laws. If you want any part of your feedback treated as confidential, you need to tell us. Please let us know if you want to keep part of your feedback confidential, and why. Is it commercially sensitive, confidential or proprietary, or personal information? Clearly state this and tell us which parts of your feedback you want to keep confidential for these reasons. We will consider your request under our OIA requirements.