Decision to list medical devices supplied by Johnson & Johnson (New Zealand) Limited

Hospital devices Decision

What we’re doing

We're pleased to announce the approval of a listing agreement with Johnson & Johnson (New Zealand) Limited (“J&J”) for the supply of medical devices in the electrophysiology equipment and consumables category.

In summary this will result in:

  • J&J’s medical devices in the electrophysiology equipment and consumables category being listed in Part III of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 May 2025 under a national agreement that all Health NZ hospitals may purchase under; and
  • Health NZ hospitals being able to purchase other suppliers’ brands of medical devices from the above category as the agreement is not for sole supply.

Any changes to the original proposal?

This decision was subject to a consultation letter dated 10 March 2025.

Based on consultation feedback, some of the medical devices were removed from listing due to discontinuations. 

Who we think will be most interested

  • Health NZ staff in a range of different clinical settings including but not limited to:
    • Emergency service personnel
    • General ward clinicians and nurses
    • Cardiac service managers
    • Cardiac surgeons
    • Cardiologists
    • Cardiology unit staff
  • Procurement and supply chain personnel
  • Suppliers and wholesalers

Detail about this decision

In September 2020, Pharmac issued a Registration of Interest (“ROI”) for ranges of medical devices, including electrophysiology equipment and consumables, considered for listing on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

This ROI was undertaken to transfer the responsibility for management of products in a range of categories from New Zealand Health Partnerships, now part of Health NZ, to Pharmac. The ROI was for non-exclusive national agreements for listing on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

Pharmac has been working with suppliers who responded to this ROI and were successful in being progressed to contract negotiation to seek provisional agreements. This is the latest proposal to arise from this process.

Health NZ hospitals can continue to choose which medical devices they purchase, including those from other suppliers. Health NZ hospitals that purchase medical devices in the electrophysiology equipment and consumables category from J&J must do so under the terms and conditions, including pricing, in the agreement from 1 May 2025.

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

Our response to what you told us

We’re grateful for the time people took to respond to this consultation. Feedback was received from Health NZ regarding the terms of the agreement. While this feedback did not require a change to the agreement, Pharmac considered this feedback and engaged with the supplier and Health NZ to ensure that the intent of the proposal was clear. We also worked with the supplier to identify any products that were discontinued, and these items were removed from the agreement.

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.