Decision to list needles and syringes products supplied by Culpan Distributors Ltd and Universal Specialities Limited (USL Medical)

Hospital devices Decision

We are pleased to announce the approval of two non-exclusive listing agreements with Culpan Distributors Ltd and Universal Specialities Limited for the supply of needle and syringe products to DHBs.

In summary this will result in:

  • Culpan’s needle and syringe products being listed in Part III of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 April 2019.
  • USL Medical’s needle and syringe products being listed in Part III of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 April 2019.

As these are non-exclusive listing agreements, DHBs will continue to be able to purchase other suppliers’ brands of needle and syringe products.

Any changes to the original proposals?

This decision was subject to the following consultation letters:

There were no changes to the agreements following consultation.

Who we think will be most interested

  • Suppliers and wholesalers
  • All DHB clinical staff including but not limited to:
    • Allied Health staff;
    • Anaesthetists;
    • Clinical Engineers;
    • Clinical staff working in surgical and medical units, emergency departments, intensive and critical care units, and outpatient units
    • District nurses
    • Perioperative staff;
    • Procurement Officers
    • Oncologists
    • Radiologists
    • Technical staff
    • Urologists.

Detail about this decision

In 2017 PHARMAC issued a Request for Proposals (“RFPs”) for needles and syringes.

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

After completing the RFP evaluation processes and consulting on the individual provisional Agreements reached with Culpan and USL Medical, PHARMAC has decided to list both Culpan’s and USL Medical’s ranges of needles and syringes in Part III of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

The list of products will be available on PHARMAC’s website from 1 April 2019, in both a PDF document and an Excel spreadsheet.

DHBs that purchase Culpan’s and/or USL Medical’s needles and syringes must do so under the terms and conditions and at the prices included in the Agreements, from 1 April 2019. DHBs can continue to choose which needles and syringes they purchase.

PHARMAC expects to consult on further agreements with suppliers of needles and syringes 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 theme raised in feedback and our responses to the feedback received, are set out below.

Theme

PHARMAC Staff Comment

Culpan and USL Medical Agreements

Ministry of Health

Advising no technical resource impacts anticipated as a result of proposal

 

Noted

Needle & Syringe Agreements 

DHB Clinical Product Advisor

Noted that any exclusive supply arrangements for needles associated with biopsy guns, and syringes used in syringe pumps could significantly impact DHBs.

 

Noted. The Culpan and USL Medical agreements are non-exclusive listing agreements. DHBs can continue to purchase products from other suppliers.

While PHARMAC does enter into exclusive supply arrangements for some products, we would engage with our advisors as well as publicly consult on such arrangements in advance to ensure we were making a well-informed decision. 

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