Proposal to list infusion and feeding devices supplied by Becton Dickinson Limited

Hospital devices Consultation Closed

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 Becton Dickinson Limited (“BD”) 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 in the following categories:

Consultation closes at 4pm Thursday 14 October 2021 and feedback can be emailed to tyson.edwards@pharmac.govt.nz.

What would the effect be?

From 1 December 2021, infusion devices and feeding devices supplied by BD 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 BD 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.

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 including but not limited to:
    • 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

Pharmac has previously issued Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for:

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. We expect to consult on further provisional agreements with suppliers of infusion and feeding devices throughout 2021 and 2022.

Details about our proposal

Pharmac has entered into a provisional agreement with BD for the supply of infusion and feeding devices.

The proposal would result in Pharmaceutical Schedule listings for:

Category

Brands

Number of Products

Infusion equipment and associated devices

Alaris, Alaris Plus, Alaris NeXus, Alaris System, BD, Carefusion, Plastipak, Pryor

345

Non-dedicated & consumable infusion devices

Alaris, Angiocath, BD, Cathena, Insyte, MaxPlus, MaxZero, Neoflon, NeutraClear, Nexiva, Saf-T-Intima, Smartsite, Venflon

366

Feeding equipment and associated devices

BD

16

Non-dedicated feeding devices

BD Enteral

8

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 Thursday 14 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.

Your feedback may be shared

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