Proposal to list medical devices supplied by Accessable
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 Environmental Health Management Services Limited t/a Accessable (“Accessable”) in Part III of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 October 2022.
We propose to list medical devices supplied in the following category:
- Rehabilitation equipment, patient positioning products and supports (“rehabilitation products”)
Consultation closes at 4pm Thursday 25 August 2022 and feedback can be emailed to alyssa.currie@pharmac.govt.nz.
What would the effect be?
From 1 October 2022 rehabilitation products supplied by Accessable would be listed under a proposed national agreement for all Te Whatu Ora 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 Te Whatu Ora hospitals can continue to purchase other suppliers’ brands of rehabilitation products.
The Agreement would supersede any existing Te Whatu Ora hospital agreements with Accessable for the medical devices included in the Agreement. Any medical device listed in the Agreement and purchased by a Te Whatu Ora hospital 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.
This Agreement does not impact on any funding arrangements that are in place with Accessable for supply of rehabilitation products in community settings including, but not limited to, ACC and Ministry of Health.
As part of the Agreement Accessable would provide appropriate educational services that would be tailored to the individual needs of Te Whatu Ora hospitals, in formats and at times as required by the individual Te Whatu Ora hospital.
Pricing for the rehabilitation products 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
- Te Whatu Ora staff in a range of different clinical settings including but not limited to:
- Speech-language therapists
- Clinical engineers and maintenance services
- Te Whatu Ora procurement and supply chain
- Geriatricians
- Neurologists and Neurosurgeons
- Nurses
- Occupational therapists
- Orthopaedic surgeons
- Orthotists
- Paediatricians
- Physiotherapists
- Podiatrists
- Rehabilitation physicians (including spinal units)
- Suppliers and wholesalers
About the medical devices
Rehabilitation products
Rehabilitation is the process of regaining strength or relearning skills after a serious injury, illness, or surgery. Rehabilitation crosses all age groups, though the type, level and goals of rehabilitation will differ depending on the individual needs. Rehabilitation often focuses on:
- physical therapy to help with strength, mobility, and fitness;
- occupational therapy to help with daily activities;
- speech-language therapy to help with speaking, understanding, reading, writing, and swallowing;
- cognitive therapy (following head injury); and
- treatment of pain.
Why we’re proposing this
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, and proposals were progressed to contract negotiation, to seek provisional agreements. This proposal is the latest to arise from this process and we expect to consult on one further provisional agreement with a supplier of rehabilitation products.
Details about our proposal
The proposal would result in listing 77 rehabilitation products in the Pharmaceutical Schedule, supplying medical devices for rental and covers the following ranges:
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Further information, including pricing and contractual details, has been provided to Te Whatu Ora Procurement personnel. Clinicians interested in further detail on what this change means for their hospital should engage with their Procurement teams.
To provide feedback
Send us an email: alyssa.currie@pharmac.govt.nz by 4pm 25 August 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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