Proposal to list medical devices supplied by New Zealand Medical and Scientific Limited
Pharmac is seeking feedback on a proposal to list a range of medical devices in Part III of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule.
What we’re proposing
Pharmac is seeking feedback on a proposal to list medical devices supplied by New Zealand Medical and Scientific (“NZMS”) in Part III of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 December 2021 through a non-exclusive provisional agreement.
We propose to list medical devices supplied in the following categories:
- laboratory equipment and consumables
- point of care testing equipment and consumables; and
- peritoneal dialysis medical devices
Consultation closes at 4pm Tuesday 26 October 2021 and feedback can be emailed to katie.brownless@pharmac.govt.nz.
What would the effect be?
From 1 December 2021 medical devices in the categories above supplied by NZMS would be listed under a proposed national agreement (“Agreement”) that all DHBs may purchase under, subject to consultation and approval by Pharmac’s Board or delegate.
The Agreement would not be for sole supply and DHBs can continue to purchase other suppliers’ brands of laboratory equipment and consumables, point of care testing equipment and consumables, and peritoneal dialysis medical devices.
The Agreement would supersede any existing DHB agreements with NZMS for the medical devices included in the Agreement. Any medical device 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 in the Pharmaceutical Schedule.
Pricing for the medical devices in the 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 including but not limited to:
- Clinical Engineers and maintenance services
- Clinical Product Evaluators
- Clinicians
- Laboratory managers, scientists, technicians and other laboratory staff
- Nursing assistants
- Pathologists
- Point of Care Testing Coordinators
- Point of Care Specialists
- Procurement Officers and supply chain personnel
- Renal unit staff
- Suppliers and wholesalers
About the medical devices
Laboratory equipment and consumables
The Laboratory Equipment and Consumables category includes medical devices used in the collection, receipt, preparation and analysis of human biological material for the purpose of supporting patient diagnosis, management and treatment.
Point of care testing equipment and consumables
Point of care testing is the analysis of clinical specimens to provide medical laboratory test results near to the patient or at the site of patient care. Point of care testing may be performed by multiple users including but not limited to clinical staff. It has an important role in providing a rapid test result near to the patient which can be used for diagnosis or monitoring a treatment response and may be acted upon quickly to provide effective, quality patient care.
Peritoneal dialysis
Peritoneal dialysis is a type of renal dialysis treatment which uses the peritoneum in a patient’s abdomen as the membrane for fluid exchange. The dialysis fluid is introduced into the patient’s peritoneum and then removed with the waste products absorbed.
This can occur whilst a patient sleeps (automated peritoneal dialysis, APD) or during the day as a patient moves around (Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis, CAPD). The medical devices in this category include the dialysis equipment, fluids that are introduced and the associated consumables such as catheters and preparatory products.
Why we’re proposing this
In April 2021 Pharmac issued a Registrations of Interest (“ROI”) for(external link) listing agreements for point of care testing equipment(external link).
The RFP and ROIs were for non-exclusive national agreements for listing on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.
The ROIs invited registrations of interest for the supply of medical devices where New Zealand Health Partnerships ("NZHP") has previously released RFP processes from suppliers for listing on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.
Pharmac has been working with suppliers who responded to the RFP and the ROIs, and proposals were progressed to contract negotiation, to seek provisional agreements.
We expect to consult on further provisional agreements for these categories in 2021.
Details about our proposal
The proposal would result in the listing of medical devices in the following brands and quantities:
|
Category |
Brands |
Line items |
|---|---|---|
|
Laboratory equipment and consumables |
|
1,508 |
|
Point of care testing equipment and consumables |
|
109 |
| Peritoneal dialysis medical devices |
|
33 |
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: katie.brownless@pharmac.govt.nz by 4pm 26 October 2021.
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.
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