Proposal to list medical devices supplied by Nutricia 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 a range medical devices supplied by Nutricia Limited (“Nutricia”) in Part III of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 August 2024 in the following category:
- Non-dedicated feeding devices, feeding equipment and associated devices (“feeding devices”)
Consultation closes at 4pm Friday 14 June 2024 and feedback can be emailed to tyson.edwards@pharmac.govt.nz.
What would the effect be?
From 1 August 2024, feeding devices supplied by Nutricia would be listed under a proposed national agreement for all Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora (“Health NZ”) 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 Health NZ hospitals could continue to purchase other suppliers’ brands of feeding devices.
The Agreement would supersede any existing Health NZ contracts with Nutricia for the products included in the Agreement. Any medical devices listed in the Agreement and purchased by Health NZ hospitals would be in accordance with the terms and conditions, including price, stated in the Agreement effective from the date of listing on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.
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
- Health NZ staff in a range of different clinical settings including but not limited to:
- Clinical engineers and maintenance services
- Dietitians
- Gastroenterologists
- Geriatricians
- ICU, emergency, and critical care staff
- Nurses (both inpatient and community based)
- Paediatricians
- Procurement Officers and supply chain personnel
- Surgeons
- Suppliers and wholesalers
About the medical devices
Feeding devices
Feeding devices are medical devices used to deliver nutrition and hydration into the body through the gastrointestinal tract (enteral nutrition). Devices that supply nutrition via the circulatory system (parenteral nutrition) are contracted separately under the Infusion Devices category.
Providing nutrition to patients who cannot consume adequate food and/or fluids orally is important to optimise healing, reduce recovery times, and lower complication rates. Feeding devices are used by patients with a wide variety of clinical conditions and across both acute and community-based settings.
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 were successful in being progressed to contract negotiation, to seek provisional agreements. This proposal is the latest to arise from this process and we expect to consult on further provisional agreements with suppliers of feeding devices.
Details about our proposal
Pharmac has entered into a provisional agreement with Nutricia for the supply of feeding devices. The proposal would result in listing 29 items from the brands Dash3, Flocare, and Flocare Infinity on the Pharmaceutical Schedule supplied by Nutricia.
Further information, including pricing and contractual details, has been provided to Health NZ procurement personnel. Clinicians interested in further detail on what this change means for their Health NZ hospital should engage with their procurement teams.
To provide feedback
Send us an email: tyson.edwards@pharmac.govt.nz by 4pm 14 June 2024.
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.
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