Decision to list Medical Devices supplied by Obex Medical Limited
What we’re doing
We’re pleased to announce the approval of a listing agreement with Obex Medical Limited (“Obex”) for the supply of the following product ranges to DHB Hospitals:
- medical thermometers;
- single use instruments; and
- medical devices used in the prevention of venous thromboembolism (“VTE Prevention”)
In summary this will result in:
- Obex’s medical thermometers, single use instruments and VTE Prevention products being listed on the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 June 2018 under a national agreement that all DHBs may purchase under (“Agreement”).
- Estimated national savings of $49,000 per annum, assuming no change to current usage levels or product mix.
- DHBs continuing to be able to purchase other suppliers’ brands of medical thermometers, single use instruments and VTE Prevention products as the Agreement is not for sole supply.
Any changes to the original proposal?
This decision was subject to a consultation letter dated 28 March 2018. No changes have been made to the Agreement as a result of consultation.
Who we think will be most interested
- Suppliers and Wholesalers
- DHB Staff
- Clinicians
- Procurement and supply chain personnel
- Sterile services personnel
- Clinical engineers
Detail about this decision
In 2016 PHARMAC issued Requests for Proposals (“RFPs”) for medical thermometers, single use instruments and VTE Prevention products. The RFPs requested proposals for non-exclusive national agreements for listing on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.
After completing the RFP evaluation processes and consulting on the provisional Agreement reached with Obex, PHARMAC has decided to list Obex’s range of medical thermometers, single use instruments and VTE Prevention products in Part III of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 June 2018.
DHBs that purchase Obex’s medical thermometers, single use instruments and VTE Prevention products must do so under the terms and conditions, and at the prices, included in the Agreement, from 1 June 2018.
DHBs can continue to choose which medical thermometers, single use instruments and VTE Prevention products they purchase.
The Agreement includes terms and conditions for training and education to be provided by Obex, on the appropriate use of their medical devices, which is to be provided at times as agreed with individual DHBs.
Obex’s medical thermometers, single use instruments and VTE Prevention products are the latest that PHARMAC has decided to list on the Pharmaceutical Schedule. Further consultations in these categories is expected over the next few months.
Our response to what you told us
We appreciate the time people took to consider this consultation.
All consultation responses received by 18 April 2018 were considered in their entirety in making a decision to approve Obex’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 |
|---|---|
| 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.