Proposal to list medical devices supplied by Invacare New Zealand

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 a range of medical devices supplied by Invacare New Zealand (“Invacare”) in Part III of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 June 2022.

We propose to list medical devices in the following categories:

Consultation closes at 4pm Friday 22 April 2022 and feedback can be emailed to alyssa.currie@pharmac.govt.nz.

What would the effect be?

From 1 June 2022 beds and mattresses, and respiratory equipment and consumables supplied by Invacare 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 can continue to purchase other suppliers’ brands of beds and mattresses, and respiratory equipment and consumables.  

The Agreement would supersede any existing DHB agreements with Invacare 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.

As part of the Agreement Invacare 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 beds and mattresses, and respiratory equipment and consumables 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

  • Clinical and non-clinical DHB staff:
    • Anaesthetists and anaesthetic technicians
    • Clinical engineers, maintenance services and facilities staff
    • Clinical staff across all areas of hospitals
    • Clinical staff involved with airway management and emergency respiratory resuscitation
    • Clinical support staff
    • DHB loan store staff
    • Procurement and supply chain
    • Pulmonary function specialists
    • Pulmonary rehabilitation specialists
    • Respiratory clinicians
    • Respiratory therapists
  • Suppliers and wholesalers

About the medical devices

Beds and mattresses

Hospital beds and mattresses are specially designed for hospitalised patients or others in need of some form of health care. These beds and mattresses have special features both for the comfort and well-being of the patient and for the convenience of health care workers.

Respiratory care

Respiratory care is a health specialty involving the diagnosis, assessment, treatment and management of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities of the cardiopulmonary system.

The respiratory equipment and consumables category includes oxygen delivery consumables and accessories, aerosol delivery devices and associated consumables, non-powered humidifiers (passive and bubble) and associated tubing and consumables, laryngectomy and tracheostomy consumables, spirometers and respiratory muscle trainers and associated consumables, breathing filters, powered and non-powered respiratory suction devices and associated consumables, ventilator circuits and associated consumables and flow meters.

Why we’re proposing this

In 2017 Pharmac issued a Request for Proposal (“RFP”) for:

In September 2020 Pharmac issued a Registration of Interest (“ROI”) for a range of medical devices, including beds and mattresses, considered for listing on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

The ROI was undertaken to transfer the responsibility for management of beds and mattresses from New Zealand Health Partnerships to Pharmac.

Both the RFP and ROI were for non-exclusive national agreements for listing on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

Pharmac has been working with suppliers to seek provisional agreements and this proposal is the latest to arise for these categories.

Details about our proposal

The proposal would result in listing 75 medical devices in the Pharmaceutical Schedule for purchase and rental, and covering the following:

Category

Brands

Line items

Beds and mattresses

Aeria, Alegio, CS7, Curocell, Dacapo, Divan, Etude, Invacare, Multi fit, Permobil, Octave, Roma, RX, Softform, Spencer, Viking

73

Respiratory equipment and consumables

Cubro

2

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: alyssa.currie@pharmac.govt.nz by 4pm 22 April 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.

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.