Proposal to list medical devices supplied by Australian Health 888 and New Zealand Medical and Scientific 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 in Part III of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 September 2023 in the following category:
These will be supplied by:
- Australian Health 888 (New Zealand) Limited (“Australian Health 888”); and
- New Zealand Medical and Scientific Limited (“NZMS”).
Consultation closes at 4pm Tuesday 25 July 2023 and feedback can be emailed to peter.mansell@pharmac.govt.nz.
What would the effect be?
From 1 September 2023 medical devices supplied by Australian Health 888 and NZMS in the needles and syringes category would be listed under proposed national agreements for all Te Whatu Ora hospitals to purchase under, subject to consultation and approval by Pharmac’s Board or delegate (“Agreements”).
The Agreements would not be for sole supply and Te Whatu Ora hospitals could continue to purchase other supplier’s brands of needle and syringe products.
Any medical device listed in the Agreements and purchased by Te Whatu Ora hospitals would be in accordance with the terms and conditions, including price, stated in the Agreements effective from the date of listing on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.
Pricing of medical devices in the Agreements, subject to any prior termination of each relevant 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:
- Anaesthetists
- Clinical and technical staff working in surgical and medical units, emergency departments, intensive and critical care units, perioperative and outpatient units
- District nurses
- Procurement and supply chain personnel
- Suppliers and wholesalers
About the medical devices
Needles and syringes
Needles and syringes are medical devices predominantly used to inject fluids (such as medicines) into or withdraw fluids from the body (such as blood). Syringes are also used for a variety of other purposes such as for flushing, irrigating and are also used with medical gases and air. These medical devices are used across a wide range of clinical settings.
Included in this proposal are blunt fill needles, which are used for the draw-up of medication, re-constitution of medication, and for accessing IV bags.
Why we’re proposing this
In February 2023 Pharmac issued the following Request for Proposals (RFP):
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 were successful in being progressed to contract negotiation to seek provisional agreements. This proposal consists of the two agreements to arise from and were successful in this process.
Details about our proposal
The proposal would result in listing 14 medical devices in the needles and syringes category on the Pharmaceutical Schedule as follows:
|
Supplier |
Brands |
Line Items |
|---|---|---|
|
Australian Health 888 |
|
12 |
|
NZMS |
|
2 |
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 Te Whatu Ora Hospital should engage with their Procurement teams.
To provide feedback
Send us an email: peter.mansell@pharmac.govt.nz by 4pm Tuesday 25 July 2023.
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.