Proposal to list medical devices supplied by Paragon Care Group New Zealand 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 Paragon Care Group New Zealand Limited (“Paragon Care”) in Part III of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 March 2022.
We propose to list medical devices supplied by Paragon Care in the following categories:
Consultation closes at 4pm Friday 17 December 2021 and feedback can be emailed to grace.vandyk@pharmac.govt.nz.
What would the effect be?
From 1 March 2022, Paragon Care’s range of medical devices in the categories noted above would be listed under a national agreement for all DHBs to purchase under, subject to consultation and approval by Pharmac’s Board or delegate (“Agreement”).
The Agreement would not be for sole supply, with DHBs continuing to be able to purchase other suppliers’ brands of endomechanical & electrosurgical products and infusion equipment & associated devices/non-dedicated & consumable infusion devices..
The Agreement would supersede any existing DHB contracts with this supplier for the medical devices listed in Schedule 1 in the Agreement. Any device listed in the Pharmac Agreement and purchased by a DHB would be at the price, terms and conditions stated in the Agreement, effective from the date of listing on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.
As part of the Agreement, Paragon Care would provide appropriate training and education services that would be tailored to the needs of the individuals DHBs, in formats and at times as required by DHBs.
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:
- Surgeons
- Perioperative staff
- ICU, emergency, and critical care staff
- Anaesthetists
- Nurses
- Surgical and general ward staff
- Clinical engineers and maintenance services
- Sterile services personnel
- Infection control staff
- Procurement and supply chain personnel
- Suppliers and wholesalers
About the medical devices
Endomechanical and electrosurgical products
Endomechanical and electrosurgical products are used in a vast range of surgical specialties and procedures. Many have been specifically designed to be used for minimally invasive surgical techniques whilst others are only used in open surgery procedures. Some require power sources or other equipment to perform their function.
The endomechanical and electrosurgical products category encompasses the product ranges of endomechanical instruments, electrosurgical instruments, energy platforms and their associated consumable products. This covers both disposable and re-usable options, as well as the portable power sources or other equipment that specific instruments may require to be functional.
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.
Why we’re proposing this
In 2018 PHARMAC issued Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for:
- supply of endomechanical instruments, electrosurgical instruments, energy platforms and consumable products and;
- supply of infusion devices (including non-dedicated and consumable infusion devices and infusion equipment and associated devices)
The RFPs were for non-exclusive national agreements for listing on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.
Pharmac has been working with suppliers to seek provisional agreements and this is the latest proposal to arise from those processes. We intend to consult on further provisional agreements with other suppliers in each of the categories over the coming months.
Details about our proposal
PHARMAC has entered into a provisional agreement with Ecomed for the supply of infusion devices.
The proposal would result in Pharmaceutical Schedule listings for:
|
Category |
Brands |
Number of products |
|---|---|---|
|
Endomechanical & electrosurgical products |
|
143 |
| Infusion equipment & associated devices |
|
131 |
|
Non-dedicated and consumable infusion devices |
|
140 |
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: grace.vandyk@pharmac.govt.nz by 4pm Friday 17 December 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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