Proposal to list endomechanical and electrosurgical products supplied by Bio Serve NZ 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 Bio Serve NZ Limited (“Bio Serve”)  in Part III of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 April 2022.

We propose to list medical devices supplied by Bio Serve in the following category:

Consultation closes at 4pm Tuesday 15 February 2022 and feedback can be emailed to taylor.wilson@pharmac.govt.nz.

What would the effect be?

From 1 April 2022, Bio Serve’s range of medical devices in the endomechanical & electrosurgical products category 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.

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, Bio Serve 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
    • 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.

Why we’re proposing this

In 2018 PHARMAC issued Requests for Proposal (RFP) for:

The RFP was for non-exclusive national agreements for listing on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

Pharmac has been working with suppliers who responded to the RFP to seek provisional agreements and this is the final proposal to arise from this process.

Details about our proposal

The proposal would result in 66 medical devices being listed in the Pharmaceutical Schedule covering the Erbe and Endo-Flex brands.

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: taylor.wilson@pharmac.govt.nz 4pm Tuesday 15 February 2022.

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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