Decision to list medical devices supplied by In Vitro Technologies

What we’re doing

We're pleased to announce the approval of a listing agreement with In Vitro Technologies NZ Pty Limited (“In Vitro”) for the supply of medical devices to Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora (“Health NZ”) hospitals in the sterilisation and decontamination equipment and associated consumables category.

In summary this will result in:

• Listing of medical devices in the sterilisation and decontamination equipment and associated consumables category supplied by In Vitro in Part III of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 February 2025 under a national agreement that all Health NZ hospitals may purchase under (“Agreement”); and
• Health NZ hospitals being able to continue to purchase other suppliers’ brands of medical devices in the sterilisation and decontamination equipment and associated consumables category as the Agreement is not for sole supply.

Any changes to the original proposal?

This decision was subject to a consultation letter dated 12 November 2024.

As a result of the consultation process, some medical devices were removed from the listing schedule.

Who we think will be most interested

• Equipment validation service providers
• Health NZ staff including but not limited to:
  • Biomedical engineers (potentially involved in the validation process/outsourced)
  • Dental units
  • Facilities and support services department
  • General ward staff
  • Infection prevention and control
  • Occupational health and safety department
  • Procurement and supply chain department
  • Sterile services department
  • Theatre staff
• Professional bodies
  • New Zealand Nurses Organisation
  • Sterile Services Associated NZ
• Suppliers and wholesalers

Detail about this decision

In August 2021, Pharmac released the following Request for Proposal (“RFP”):

• Sterilisation and decontamination equipment and associated consumables

The RFP was for non-exclusive national agreements for listing on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

After completing the RFP evaluation process, and consulting on the provisional agreement with In Vitro, Pharmac has decided to list In Vitro’s sterilisation and decontamination equipment and associated consumables in Part III of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 February 2025.

Health NZ hospitals can continue to chose which medical devices they purchase, including those from other suppliers. Health NZ hospitals that purchase medical devices in this category from In Vitro must do so under the terms and conditions, including pricing, in the agreement from 1 February 2025.

The list of products will be available on Pharmac’s website from 1 February 2025.

Our response to what you told us

We’re really grateful for the time people took to respond to this consultation. A summary of the main theme raised in the feedback, our responses to the feedback received, and changes we have made are detailed below:

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 660 050.