Notification to list medical devices supplied by Elite Brands Distribution Limited

What we’re doing

We’re pleased to announce the approval of a listing agreement with Elite Brands Distribution Limited (“Elite”) for the supply of single use instruments.

In summary this will result in:

• A range of Swann-Morton single use blades being listed in the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 October 2018 under a national listing agreement with Elite that all DHBs may purchase under (the “Agreement”).
• DHBs continuing to be able to purchase other suppliers’ brands of single use instruments as the Agreement is not for sole supply. 

Any changes to the original proposal?

These decisions were subject to a consultation letter dated 13 March 2018. A summary of the responses to the consultation is included below.

Since the consultation was released, Swann Morton Limited has centralised its distribution in New Zealand to Elite. The listing date was delayed while these changes were confirmed.

The listing date is the only change that has been made to the Agreement. 

Who we think will be most interested

• Suppliers and Wholesalers
• DHB Staff
  • Clinical staff
  • Procurement and supply chain personnel

Detail about this decision

In 2016 PHARMAC issued a Request for Proposals (“RFP”) for Single Use Instruments. The RFP requested proposals for non-exclusive national agreements for listing in the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

After completing the RFP evaluation process, and consulting on a provisional Agreement reached with Elite, PHARMAC has decided to list Elite’s Single Use Instruments, in Part III of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule, from 1 October 2018.

The Agreement includes a range of Swann-Morton branded blades and scalpels.

The medical devices listed under these national agreements will be available on PHARMAC's website from 1 October 2018, in both a PDF document and an Excel spreadsheet.

DHBs that purchase Elite’s Single Use Instruments must do so under the terms and conditions, and at the prices, included in the Agreements, from 1 October 2018.

DHBs can continue to choose which Single Use Instruments they purchase.

Educational services will be provided by the suppliers, on the appropriate use of their medical devices, at times as agreed with individual DHBs.

This Agreement is the latest to be approved in this category and further consultations in this category are 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 were considered in their entirety in making a decision to approve the provisional Agreement.

A summary of the main themes raised in feedback and our responses to the feedback received are set out 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 66 00 50.