Decision to list ConvaTec (New Zealand) Limited’s range of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) equipment and consumables
We are pleased to announce the approval of a listing agreement with ConvaTec (New Zealand) Limited (“ConvaTec”) for the supply of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Equipment and Consumables (“NPWT Products”) to DHBs.
In summary, this will result in:
- Pharmaceutical Schedule listings for the Avelle range of NPWT Products being supplied by ConvaTec under a national agreement that all DHBs may purchase under (“Agreement”).
- DHBs continuing to be able to purchase other suppliers’ brands of NPWT Products, as the Agreement is not for sole supply.
- The NPWT products being available for DHBs to purchase at the PHARMAC negotiated prices, and terms and conditions from 1 February 2018.
- ConvaTec providing training and education services that will be tailored to suit the needs of individual DHBs in formats and at times as required by DHBs.
- Pricing for products in the Agreement, subject to any prior termination of the Agreement, not being increased before 1 February 2021.
Any changes to the original proposal?
This decision was subject to a consultation letter dated 24 November 2017. There have been no changes to the listing agreement as a result of consultation feedback.
Who we think will be most interested
- Suppliers and Wholesalers
- DHB Staff:
- Wound care Clinicians
- Community Nursing Services
- Clinical Engineers
- Procurement Officers
Detail about this decision
In June 2017 PHARMAC issued a request for proposals (“RFP”) for NPWT Products. The RPF requested proposals for non-exclusive national agreements for listing on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.
After completing the RFP evaluation process, and consulting on the provisional Agreement reached with ConvaTec, PHARMAC has decided to list ConvaTec’s range of NPWT Products in Part III of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 February 2018.
The Avelle range of NPWT Products includes a disposable NPWT unit and associated range of dressings.
DHBs that purchase ConvaTec’s NPWT Products must do so under the terms and conditions, and at the prices, included in the Agreement, from 1 February 2018.
DHBs can continue to choose which NPWT Products they purchase.
The Agreement includes terms and conditions for training and education services to be provided by ConvaTec to DHB personnel on the appropriate use of its NPWT Products, which is to be provided at times as agreed with individual DHBs.
ConvaTec’s NPWT Products are the first NPWT Products that PHARMAC has decided to list on the Pharmaceutical Schedule. Further consultations in this category are expected over the next few months.
Our response to what you told us
We are really grateful for the time people took to respond to this consultation.
All consultation responses received by 15 December 2017 were considered in their entirety in making a decision to approve ConvaTec’s provisional Agreement.
A summary of the main themes raised in feedback and our responses to the feedback received are set out below:
| Theme | Comment |
|---|---|
| Request for information about accessories. | Information provided. |
| Supportive comment from a DHB regarding pricing, with interest expressed in reading any evidence-based papers comparing the proposed products to other NPWT products available in NZ, and seeing the specifications and user information. |
When considering the potential suitability of the Avelle range of NPWT Products for use by DHBs, PHARMAC considered a range of information including international compliance certification and clinical reference sites. DHBs are able to choose which products they use and, while PHARMAC did not seek comparative information from suppliers as part of this national contracting process, we understand information will be available from the supplier for the DHB’s assessment. |
| Requests for full product list. | Supplied. |
| Feedback that no technical or resource impacts are expected as a result of the proposal. | Noted. |
If you have any questions about this decision, you can email us at enquiry@pharmac.govt.nz; or call our toll free number (9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday) on 0800 66 00 50.