Decision to list needles and syringes, and respiratory equipment supplied by REM SYSTEMS Limited

Hospital devices Decision

We’re pleased to announce the approval of a listing agreement for supply of needles and syringes, and respiratory equipment ("respiratory care products") with REM SYSTEMS ("REM") Limited.

In summary this will result in:

  • REM’s needles and syringes and respiratory care products being listed on the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 December 2018 under a national agreement that all DHBs may purchase under (“Agreement”).

This is a non-exclusive listing agreement, DHBs would continue to be able to purchase other suppliers’ brands of needles and syringes and respiratory care products.

Any changes to the original proposal?

This decision was subject to a consultation letter dated 14 October 2018.

No changes have been made to the listing Agreement as a result of consultation feedback.

Who we think will be most interested

  • Suppliers and Wholesalers
  • All DHB clinical staff including but not limited to:
    • Anaesthetists and Anaesthetic Technicians
    • Clinical staff involved with airway management and emergency respiratory resuscitation
    • Respiratory Clinicians
    • Respiratory therapists
    • Pulmonary function specialists
    • Pulmonary rehabilitation specialists
    • Clinical staff working in surgical and medical units, emergency departments, intensive and critical care units, and outpatient units
    • District nurses
    • Procurement Officers

Detail about this decision

In 2017 PHARMAC issued Requests for Proposals (“RFPs”) for:

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

After completing the RFP evaluation processes and consulting on the provisional Agreement reached with REM, PHARMAC has decided to list REM’s range of needles and syringes and respiratory care products in Part III of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

The list of products will be available on PHARMAC's website from 1 December 2018, in both a PDF document and an Excel spreadsheet.

DHBs that purchase REM’s needles and syringes and respiratory care products must do so under the terms and conditions and at the prices included in the Agreement, from 1 December 2018. DHBs can continue to choose which needles and syringes and respiratory care products they purchase.

PHARMAC expects to consult on further agreements with suppliers of needles and syringes and respiratory care products over the next few months.

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 themes raised in feedback and our responses to the feedback received, are set out below.

Theme

Comment

Ministry of Health

Advising no technical resource impacts anticipated as a result of proposal

Noted.

The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA)

No concerns about any of the products included in this agreement.

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.